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Full text of "A discourse occasioned by the death of the Hon. Stephen Sewall, Esq. ... : who departed this life on Wed. night, Sept. 10, 1760, aged 58 : delivered the Lord's day after his decease"

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FOR  THECENTISEL. 

ST\\z  foUirviiT^  Eir.iy  was  wrote  auJ  pv-.blin^eJ  imrr.e- 
f'i  •',  =  !/  after  the  jjjrc.it  fne,  March  20,  1  ';6o,  and  is  now 
icpiiSliihri!  ns  a  ),>licJihle  to  the  Incc  Conflagration  ] 


T.\\l  \incert^iiJy  of  h'lman  life,  t)ie    tranfitory    nntiire 
a')J  contiiural  /icirikiuies  olthi^  jiicf;Mit  Hate  of  hemj; 
.'uul  of  all  cnjoynisus  and    [loirdiiotis  in  it,   are  truths  io 
well  l;n'>wn  10  every  ilioug'thil  pcrfon.anci  have  Ui  ofu^a 
Veen  the  fuhjeJ^s  of  j-KllciciuS  writers  i  1  all  ages,  that  the 
Jlro-i;;^ft  iavenricri  cr.n  perhaps  foarctfi  id  any  thin j  ncvv 
»()  nifjr,  an.l  a  m">i'ell  Milfe  with  re!uf]^ance  ir.iiiertakes 
ih*  ihCTic-  :  Vet  f.ich  is  the  frailty  of  human  nature,  tliat 
%vhcn  a  fuJJoi;  Gutaftrophe  furioun.ls  us  thenrmd  isfliu- 
,  tiTcJ  an  1  vlifoiicirted,  and  does  not  r-*aJily  collc:fl  th.)fe 
rcfle('^in:is   fjiiable   to  the  occafj.jn,    or  elie    by    Jiav'ing 
hr>f  ,1  nfid  tv)  negieil  {wz^-i  reflirtiorts,  froTi  a  conception 
t'lat  tliey  mnft  needs  flo'.v  naturnlly  from  Aich  calamities 
!•.  Ihoujj  proJucc  them,   the   rr.inJ  ihroi:j;h.  difufe^  may 
■.')t    inn!Tne;!i,ite!y    conceive   thrm    wlien  \v:intv-i.l.     It    is 
'ru;,  ihtf  V'):cc   of  nature    has   al'vvays   hsen   the    fame, 
is  co'iUnuHlIy   founding,    and    unuerrto  )d    by    iill  ;    yet 
Aran2.5  to  fay,  what  we  heur  t!ic  oftcnef^,  we  attend  to 
the  lea't,  and  wliat   wc  ar^  fhc   rmft  cert.^in  of,  we  give 
the  leaH:  Iieed  10  ;  hut  there  a'"e  times  whe-i  g^ini  provi- 
dence fends  a  lo  ider  fammons  by  th:"  flrn2:;;les  of  natiircr'! 
nnd  prj-;laims  thr,fc- truth";,  wluchthongh  they  could  not  < 
opcra:;^  hy  :he  iaip.Trtancc  of  tlklr  nature,  yet  ipny  force 
their  zf^^^  by  ro  i^in^;  tlie   palhons  ;  hut  here  frailty  a- 
jV^ia  tak.es. place',   from  extreme  thoujiitlsr.ncis,  t;-;c  paf- 
fioa?  b  ;ing  ronz:d,  wc  ri'Hi  on  to  confufion  and  error';   I 
like  pilots  jrowinj^.carclcfs  by  a  long  ralm,we  liesr  hy  th.e 
cafl  o.f  paffion,  i.iftj.-id  of  th.e  comjj.ifs  of  underftanding) 
hc-cdiefii  of  the  port  of  truth,  and  i-,egligent  of  thofe  du- 
ties to  which  tho  paiTi  )ms  were  only  d:/ric;i.e<.l  In  urge  o  ,, 

To  point  f())th  and  f  imiU  ivife  thefe  tra'.h'jhasbeen  the 
^t'cll  handled  fu  hjesfl  of  the  beft    writeis;   hut    \jt'!)ile  na- 
t  jrs  contin  jes  tu  fuTj.-non,  and  t!ie  wifdv)in    (;f  lier  voice  i 
rciTiains  in  any   uie.ifure  n.cgledcd,   the  tiierre  cannot  be 
tiuly  cxhauftid,  nor  the  re;->etltion  of  it  neidlefs. 

Forllicfe  ends,  this  Eiriy  is  prefented  to  the  public 
vinv,  if  it  pafs  u  id^r  the  ja  igojent  of  abJe  mincis,  tliey 
will  actpiiifce  in  any  truth,  and  at  let'.ft  rr.ny  Tro  11  Iience 
t  lice  a  hint  for  nobler  thoughtj-";  befidc-;,  rhcre  is  a  fat- 
i:,fa(^t.ion  wcall  feel  in  giving  ve;3t  to  t!ie  tl)r«ibbings  of 
tliC  horumjJiud  in  colleaijig'tofom?  ordV-r.thofet.ho'.^ghts 
Tvliioh  final  through  tlie  mind  on  fuch  occafiflns. 

L-H  this  then  he  the  apology  ;  but  if  fiill  any  one 
fh)i:l.l  cenfarc  na?  for  treading  in  this  unaccufloin.^d  path 
of  v/.:ting,  I  niuft  nnit  tha  difpute  and  fcrecw  mvfclf  be- 
/.cath  the  horrors  oFfhat  never  tobe  forgof.cn  night,nlien 
x'l".  fi.x^r^  bro'ce  loafecn  our  hcufe-;,  and  laid  fo  large  a 
pa:  I  i)f  our  capital  m  ruins:  lam  fcnfible  that  p.aintcd 
1^1  r'u-.  ili-becoTT;  re  a!  forrow,  and  are  never  to  be  u fed 
l-.i:  w!;en  tlie  palTnns  n:-e  fluggifh  5  and  tlieref-jre  paf- 
(v\z  over  thatn-nple  fie'd  for  defrriptujn,  which  the  late 
uuliappy  cataflropheafTcjrds,  fnall  confine  myfelf  to  thofe 
I'^S-r  fads  wliicli  no  body  flionld  he  igiqrnnC  of,  and 
V.  ,th  wl:ich  every  body  mud  n«uUhe  affeacd. 


It  ^v?.s  then  in  the  firft  vvatclif.s  of  the  morn'ng,  v  lien 
our  bodies  were  fift  fit.tered  v.ic'i  fouad^ift  flccp,  that 
the  fiie  wa=i  firil  difcovered,  and  the  town  r.l.MTneJ  njth 
?.n  oiit-cfv  ;  the  inliahitants  were  fpeedily  colledied,  snd 
though  the  fire  was  f!)u:id  in  the  cell.lr  of  a  brick,  houft^ 
vet  it  fojn  eat  throush  tts  prifon  ;  the  wiiid  blowiiig 
ire^h  nrg-d  on  the  fiamei,  and  with  furprifjng  fury  they 
ravaged  in  fpijLe  of  a!l  oppofition  or  means  to  fn|>prefs 
tham  ;  tlie  cinikrs  and  burninr;  ruins  were  carried  to  the 
leewardmoft  part  of  the  town,  by  mesns  of  which  fonie 
who  thought  t!iemfe!ves  in  no  dai.ger,  were  tliC  fooneft 
confumcd,  and  tlie  inhabitants  of  tliem  being  r;at!iered  to 
p.rnn:  at  the  held  of  the  /ire,fuJtered  tlie  greatcHiolTcs  at 
thsir  own  hDufes,-  t'ne  like  evil  happened  to  numbcis  of 
traJefmen,  whofe  fiiops  iverefcj  quick  fuel  fofthe  flames, 
tilat  their  tools  and  ftock.  were  all  confumed  before  they 
could  repair  to  them  ;  in  fi;me  places  we  beard  tlio  I 
Jbricks  of  mothers  and  children  rouzed  from  their  beds 
ijy  the  furroundinj  flimes,  and  no  man  to.I:elp  ;  h'^re 
'\;-e  niijfht  behold  thd  -.^get.],  the  fick  and  the  bed-rid,  whofc 
di{\-ancc  fynm  the  feat  of  th-  fire  t^ave  them  hopes  of  fe- 
cv'.rity, driven  forth  CO  t!ic  inchmeneies  of  the  wearher,not 
knowing  wliere  to  fhelterj  there  we  miglit  feetliofs 
v'.'hofe  leaft-tho-.Jvhts  were  placed  on  their  fuoftance, 
und  whofe  greateft  anxiety  was  to  fave  their  lives :  Thus 
iMged  thi?  iire,  forcKij  its  way  at  the  windows  of  brick 
houfes,  whofe  flat^d  roofs  were  thought  a  A).fi.-;ent  de- 
fence, thui  adding  burning  to  burning,  till  it  left  no 
building  nnconfvimed  where  the  wind  would  let  it  pafs. 
The  natural  horrors  of  the  night  added  terror  to  this 
cataftrophsj  and  at  once  rendered  it  more  thfnial  to  the 
eye,  more  grevious  to  be  born,  and  more  dirTicuk  to  bs 
fuprelTed,  till  the  odious  nigl.t  wore  out,  and  wirh  it 
vanifhsd  the  heiglit  of  our  f;iars ;  but  not  f*  aie  reality 
of  our  forrovv,  t!ie  rifen  fun  affuaged  the  glosm.  of  the 
night,  but  gave  us  a  difmal  profpcct  of  its  h.avock  ;  a 
f;ie6lacle  (hocking  to  fenfibility  !  Like  the  blaftsd  trees 
fif  fummer*  or  the  fksleton  of  fome  delightful  body  ;  yet 
far  lefs  ungrateful  to  the  fight  than  forrowfal  to  be  re- 
f.jfled  on.  Take  a  furvey  tlien  of  thsfe  extended  ruins  , 
here  once  lived  the  loyal  fubje(5l,  the  tender  father, 
the  obliging  friend,  and  a  go3»d  commonwealths-man; 
but  their  habitations,  as  with  one  fwecp  ,of  a  fcytlie,  are 
rdl  cut  off,  and  they  thrown  on  tl:e  charity  o'f  their 
friends  :  And  is  this  all  ?  Alas  there  at  eilill  more,  heari- 
])i3rcing-fceries  ;  walk  through  the  ruin?,  and  take  a 
n:ore  particular  account ;  here  lived  the  laborious  tradef- 
m.\H,  on  whufs  daily  induftry  depended  the  fuflenance 
of  a  fium^rous  family  ;  there  lived  one  whofe  ciicum- 
Itances  were  ftraitened  with  poverty,  and  diftrKlfed  by 
ficknefs  :  hccQ  'ived  one  jnil  eni:,;jr,nT  uC'ti  indigence, 
.atVi  reapingthe  firil  fruits  of  honsfl  indnllry  ;  tlierelivfid 
thofc  whofe  comfoi table  circumllances  amjided  a  refuge 
for  th3  needy:  and  an  habitation  fot  the  friendtefs  ;  hero 
lived  th.>fe  whofe  fabfiftence  depended  on  their  frtuation  ( 
for  bafuicfs  ;  there  lived  thofe  whofe  all  was  ip  their 
houfes,  and  here  tliofe  who  are  ftill  unhappily  aafwera- 
blc  for  all  they  loA  j  there  lived,  and  there  v.-as  the  fub- 
fiftonce  of  thtt  agad  and  infirm,  whofe  frugal  indiifcry  in 
youth,  had  procured  them  the  minted  fupport  of  eafy 
old  age,whea  the  body  nnftrang  for  labor  can  no  longer  fup- 
port  itfelf^ — But  all  cut  off,  their  induftry  appears  no  more, 
and  the  fatigues  of  youth  overtakes  them,n'hen  age  fhould 
be  at  reft  ;  the  children  muft  bag,  and  ti.a  indufliiuus 
muft  be  dependent,  tiie  forehanded  repeat  his  toil  anew, 
and  the  debtor  lay  at  mercv  ;  the  friendlefs  muft  feek 
for  otUer  patrons,  and  they  wlio  pitronized  implore  coin- 
pafuon  ;  the  afflvient  a,»ed  muft  forget  ih?ir  cafe,  ?.nd 
loo  foon  lofe  the  benefit  of  that  fubftance  which  they 
could  not  carry  hence. 


c  ji  .5  '~ 
— .  S  2  5 


S-^  «  :^  c-  §J 


4-i    J2 


" '    "    ^        v..    c 

cj     w    (U 


M 


G"^ 


i!l 


~     V     ^ 

^  ■—   '6 


Whfr?  (ball  Die  mifer  beno'.v  his  hoardftor  t,ie  cx- 

.ner  his  ill  gor.en  cuns,  or  ])ow  f.iall  flie  worl.lly  | 

fcciirc  Ins  h;."pincls  u  lu-n  flames  lurrouiul  them      j 

lutcpi'.lHrNof  firrak.  which  v/e  beheld  fl»>at.ng  to 

•  iVy  wet  at  oncecnV.l  n  a  u'al  uf  v^r  poifefiions  a^a 

,-iivc  of  their  lofi:  liuc  whnt  f-»y  thefe  mighty  vu- 

ihcy  ri'eiv  v.:  rt  how  micei  t.iin  atsnurc  we  hol-.l  oar 

ments,  for  Dfxi  ur/Jer  a  fove reign  j.rov.dence  we 

:,  indv!.t--J  even  to  the  ftaMhcy  of  the  wiml  that  it  did 

noi  \  nry  .-ind  roll  the  C.imes  over  i!ic  whole  town.  \\  nh 

I.ovv  much  eafc  then  c:\n  we  fhifc  the  fcene   ana  fuppofe 

ouilelves  in  the  filurition  of  t'.e    prefent  diftrcfled  ;  ut>s 

iKHjr  FO)Jncf>,  orvicila-ue   tii.it  protcdcv.  us  ?  And  if 

btiucd--ftrovcd,  uc  lliould  have  felt  foi  row  ;  hemg  fo 

narrovv'.y  favcd  can  we  f..il  to  me't  with  fympailiy  ?  and 

If  c.-ci  t!ie  goMan  rule  was  capable  of  a  benevolent  appl'- 

,    ;     •)  t'lt  moft  infcrfjblc  mull  now  feci  it,  aiid  tl»e  n.olt 

'.:ncd   put  it  in  piafiice  ;    and   he  who  on  this  occa- 

.    ..  .'o-tr.Dt  b:-f^ow  bjniUifuUy  to  the  relief  of  tlie  inmie- 

j  diaie  h.fT^TCrs,  mnft  eitlkerflatt'tr  himfelf  wjih   fuir.c  pe- 

{  cv.\\.\c     infall'ble   proteiflion,     or    being     defoerate     in 

;    incfs,  bid  a   bold   defiance    to    ail   calamity.     Nor 

.  ny    one,   though    nut    immediately    expofed  to  this 

-fiion,  r:r  itiO'   (hrtant  from  this  capital,  furmifethat 

ive  no  pyt  in  its  general  admonition  ; 'tis  natuie's 

.,  .,i!:at   ucll    known  herald  of  the    Almighty    which 

!   ,'  It  b>!  now  utltrrd  here,  yet  echoes  every  uhcre  ;   'tis 

Mt  one  1  \ih  of  that  amazinj   fcourge,  brandifhed  by  tlie 

.?.'.)■}  r.f  vcngca-icr,  agaii.ft  a  guilty  world  ;  the  fame  fire 

1.  iv  parch  uo  t'lat  land  which  it  does  not  confume,  aivl 

■:  -;;i'|.»3kes   make  iH  (Ufplation  u'orfe  tlian  tlie  j  rcfcr.t; 

(  'j'Tiefoie  wc  are  common  tenants  of  a  fVat^  varicgalef! 

!'.  joy  and  fnrrow,  nerhiaks  '^s  natural  v.e  fhould  in 

:  me  a  Cure  (hare  the  good  of  it  which  wc  all  want, 

;j  we  are    e(j\!.\lly    expofed   to  the  evils  of  it,  under 

.     ;  h  we  all  defii  e  tf>  l(e  i  cUcvLd. 

(  ',  rr.y  fi.jl,  whnt  a  t!iou?ht  a'lifes  !    can    it   vith  truth  be' 

' '.,    th^t  any    in   liurnnti  Oiape,    though  their  du!;-;  fCipport 

robbery,  fhould  hirk  forthr  canfiifiOnot  a  public  calani- 

,  jnd  plundir  the  prop-rty  of  the    di'VeU'ed.;   or  that  any 

-  c3ol  deliberation,  upon  wh.itloever  pretence,   Ibould  ci- 

|.i'Mickly  or  priwt  ly  difcount^nnnce  that    relief  to   (he 

-rlTed  vKirh  wc  rr.iv  all  at  fo.nc  time  want,and  which  hu- 

ty  fug;c{\«;  ?  forbid  it  hcv/rn  ! 

.  '.  a;,   VIC  fojourn  in  avilc  of  tears,  forrovv  on  every   Td? 

..r-Tjndsus,    and  lalls  f.»r   tlofe  duties   whi.h    v/e  feci  im- 

'•:'.r;d  m  out  natures,  duties  fo  endeliably  erp,ravcn,   th  it  a 

r'.cn  fail,  "  In  rolhin*  do  we  more  imrr.i:at.c  the  ir'mor- 

''/0-l%  than  in  doing  a£ls  of  Iri.ndncfs,"  ths  voice  of  rcve- 

ri  15  ftiil  mere  explicit,  and  fo  plain,  that   te   who   nm? 

■read.     PofTcfTicns  tzkc   to  themfclvcj  wines  ;    to  what 

—  -^Ic  ii  it   ihcn,   tlmi  v.e  diilrcfs,  perplex  and  corrupt  our 

.  .l%in  petting  r.cakh,  the  polufHoii  of  which  i"?  fo  preca- 

r  -  IS  >  V.'jth  what  face  can  w;  fweH  w;lh  the  conceit  of  riches 

r-  1  alViimc  air«  of  irr.poTtanrc,  difdain,  opprefs,  rnd    tyran- 

;  Iff  over  lhf»lc  Ucpcaih  us  (perhips  only)  in  fortune,  when   a 

fc^v  hour?  may  fet  us  all  on  a  level  ?  Hew  inucli  does  it  become 

1  '  while  in  jfF.uence  to  demean  cuil'elve*   with  li<'  h  honefty, 

'-.inity  and  beneficence,  as  that    if  cal.imily    Ibould  over-  j 
•   ,:•:  u%  v"e  may  fland  c<in'c(Tcdly  the  worthy  objedls  of  nc«d- 
I'jl  relief?  Mclhinks  this  cnt.ilfrophe  is  big  with  in(fri:(ftian,  I 
rouid  ary  I  ne  f:;e'.hr  dire  havock   produced  frona  fo  fmall    a  j 
fre,  «ind  not  feel  (he  o|bli»3(!OPi?  v/c  owe  to  the  community  in  I 

r  'y.o'orr.y  of  tliii  ntcelFary  hvl  devouring  ele.Tj  nt,  and  of 
'Try  thing  that  is  apt  fuel  for  the  fan^e  ?  for  as  onr  pof'- 
[l-lT'op.<i  are  ret  fecurcd  by  ourowr  finele  carelulnefis,  the  duty 
thrrcforc  l«cbme»  gerteral  ;  and  may  I  be  pTrnittcd  to  take  a 
I  irt  from  Ih;:  dreadful  dcpiUrion,  and  point  it  forth  as  an 
erSlcm  of  ihal  dcdruclion,  v/hich  tKc  pafTi'-.rs  -.vhc-Ji  IM  Icofc 
prod  ICC  in  bun-an  minds  ;  when  the  firft  er.cefs  ij  not  (up- 
prcflcd,  like  the  htt  f  re  they  ravage, incre  »fc  hy  running, and 
ji-..^)  deftroy  every  t^  (g  valuable  in  the  mind  ;  ,nJ.y  entirely  ; 
,flr:p  d-,  of  th4t  real  t.  -^Ajrc  which  only  can  fV«nd  us  in  itead 
Iwhen  a  pre ater  conf^-^gration  (hail  fcire  this  earth,  when  wc 
flmll  be  a?  iittle  anxiMi<!  to  f^vc  our  lives,  is  many  lately 
were  to  lave  their  worldly  poiTcnions. 


k"-' 


DISCOURSE 

Occafioned  by  the  Death  of 


The  Honourable 


Sl'EPHEN  SETrALL,^{^, 

CHIEF-JUSTICE  of  the  Superiour  Court  of  Judicature, 
Court  of  Affize,  and  General-Goal-Delivery  ;  as  alfo 
A  Member  of  His  MAJESTY'S  COUNCIL  for  the  Province 
of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New  England  ; 


Who  departed  this  Life 
On  Wednefday -Night,  September  io.  1760. 
JEtatis  58. 

Delivered  the  Lord's-Day  after  his  Deceafe. 
By 

JONATHAN  MAYHEW,V>.V>^ 

Paftor  of  the  Weft-Church  in  Boston. 


**  The  fwcet  remerabrancc  of  the  just 
*'  Shall  ilourifh  when  he  flceps  in  duft.  " 

Psalm  CXII.  6. 


BOSTON'. 
printed  by  Richard  Draper,    in   Newbury-Strcct 
Edes  and  Gill,  in  Queen-Street  ;     And 
Thomas  and  John  Fleet,  in  Corahill. 


MDGCLX. 


J*V  J<V  4*k  i«Tt  J«fc  **k  j>^  i*y^  <<%  i¥ic  i¥i^  ^•^  ^'*t^  j-fk  ^>^l^  »-«3^  jf*l5j  ^v/^  ^l|,  ^•ri^  ^"f^  ji*K  ^ 

«  T*r  ^4?  ^.♦.r  't*^  1**  ''J'  ^  "^  ^  -'^  '*«^'  "•*J'  ^«-*"  'A'^  '■-^  ■**!'  ^^"^  ''-♦^^  '«.■■'  ■^  **■  '  «^  ^♦^^  ^^-^  '**"■  "'-*^ 


^  Funeral  Difcourfe. 
I  Samuel  xxv^  i. 

And  Samuel  died,  and  all 
the  Ifraelites  were  gathered 
together^and  lamented  him, 
and  buried  him  in  his  houfe 
at  Ramah — - 

WOULD  to  God  (  if  I  may  fo  ex- 
prefs  myfelf  without  feeming 
to  blame  thefovereign  will  and 
wifdom  )  Would  to  God,  I  had  not  fo 
melancholy  an  occafion  as  I  have,  to  de- 
fift  at  prefent  from  the  profecution  of  that 
important  fubjeft,  on  which  I  have  for 
fonie  time  been  difcourllng  !  ButGod,  who 
B  doeth 


A    FU  N ER  AL 


docth  his  \vill  in  the  armies  of  heaven, 
and  amongft  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
hath,  in  his  holy  and  infcrutable  provi- 
dence, given  me  this  occafion,  by  the 
death  of  an  honorable  perfon  lately  be- 
longing to  this  fociety.  And  altho'  1  have 
ever  had,  rather  an  averfion  to,  than  any 
fondnefs  for,  the  common  pradice  of 
making  long  encomiums  on  the  dead,  con- 
Tidcring  how  often  they  are  proftituted, 
fo  as  to  pafs  with  many  people,  even 
when  they  happen  to  be  juft,  for  little  or 
nothing  more  than  words  of  courfc  ;  vet 
I  thought  you  would  hardly  excufe  me, 
and,  indeed,  I  could  not  eafily  excufe 
myfelf,  if  I  neglecled  to  take  a  particular 
notice  of  the  life  and  death  of  fo  diiiin- 
guiflied  a  pcrfoil  as  JudgcSEWALL;  or  did 
not  endeavour  to  lead  you  into  fome  pro- 
per refledions  on  this  difpenfation  of  di- 
vine providence.  But  in  truth,  tho'  I 
know  not  well  how  to  be  filent  on  this 
occafion  ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  I  am  io 
deeply  touch'd,  fo  penetrated  hereby,  that 

I   hardly  know  how   to  fpeak For 

alas!  one,  indeed  the  far  better  pan  of  my 
heart,  feems  torn  away  from  me,  while 
the  other  is  left  wounded,  panting  and 
bleeding.  So  that  if  my  difcourfe  iliould 
appear  broken  and  unconneded,  your  can- 
dor 


DISCOURSE, 


dor  will,  I  hope,  raggeft  fome  apology  for 
me.  Whatever  I  fhall  fay  of  this  excel- 
lent perfoa's  chara6ter,will  be  the  genuine 
dictate  of  my  heart,  not  the  fruit  of  lludy  or 
invention  ;  for  forrow,yoii  know, does  not 
aim  much  at  being  corretl,  or  methodical, 

I  had  indeed  reafon  to  love  and  honor 
him  as  my  father  ;  tho',  fo  great  was  the 
humility  and  condefcention  of  that  good 
man,  that  had  I  even  call'd  him  my  friend, 
or  brother,  I  beUeve  he  w^ould  fcarcely 
have  been  offended  at  it.  And  it  would 
be  a  juft  and  great  reproach  to  me,  if  I 
did  not  now  fincerely  love  and  honor  his 
memory  ;  and  fhew  fome  public  refped: 
to  it  ;  efpecially  fince  the  doing  this,  by 
recolleding  fome  of  his  many  good  quali- 
ties, may  be  a  means  of  exciting  us  all  to 
imitate  his  virtues.  And  fmce  the  mouth 
fpeaketh  out  of,  and  according  to,  "  the 
abundance  that  is  in  the  heart  ;  '*  I  muft, 
in  juftice,  forewarn  you  that  my  difcourfe 
on  this  occafion,  unlefs  my  fpirits  and 
flrength  fhould  quite  fail  me,  will  be  con- 
fiderably  longer  than  it  is  ufual  for  me  to 
be.  But  amidft  all  my  forrow,  and  great 
heavinefs  of  heart,  I  (hall  have  at  lead  one 
confolation  ;  that  of  affuring  myfelf,  as  I 
go  along,  that  whatever,  almoft,  I  may 
B2  fay 


8  A    FUNERAL 


fay  in  honor  of  this  excellent  man,  none 
of  my  auditors  will  think  mc  cxceffive  in 
his  enlogiirm  ;  but  heartily  join  with  me 
in  paying  this  public  regard  to  his  memo- 
ry ;  which  will  be  fome  alleviation  of  n>y 
grief. 

And,  as  an  introduction  to  the  defign 
which  has  been  mentioned,  of  making 
fome  reflections  on  the  life,  charader  and 
death  of  the  worthy  perfon  lately  deceas'd; 
it  Icems  not  am  its  to  make  a  few  obfervati- 
ons  on  the  life,  character  and  death  of 
Samuel,  many  years  the  chief  judge  and 
magiflrate  of  Ifrael;  one  of  the  moll  ex- 
cellent characters  which  we  meet  with 
amongll  thofe  of  the  ancient  worthies ; 
.and  therefore,  as  it  is  conceived,  the  more 
fuitable  to  introduce  what  is  propofed 
as  the  main  bufinefs  of  this  difcourfe. 

It  is  not  defjgned,how^ever,  either  to  give 
a  large,  and' very  particular  account  of  Sa- 
muel, or  to  labour  a  parallel  between  thefe 
two  judges  :  but  only  to  feleft  fuch  parts 
of  the  conducl  and  charafter  of  the  former 
of  them,  as  feem  directly  pertinent  to  the 
prcfenr  occafion  ;  or  at  lealf,  fuch  as  may 
eallly  be  acco.nmodated  thereto* 

We 


D  ISC  O  U  lis  E. 


We  have,  in  effe^l,  a  very  honorable 
teltimony  to  the  worthinefs  of  Samuel's 
chara61:er,  in  that  paiTagc  of  lacrcd  hiftor}^ 
on  which  my  difcourfe  is  grounded  ;  altho' 
nothing  is  faid  therein,  directly,  or  parti- 
cularly concerning  it.  When  he  died,  "^// 
the  Ijraelltes  were  gathered  together,  and 
lamented  him' )  attending  his  funeral  rites 
with  the  greateft  demonltrations  of  grief. 
The  unfeigned  tears  of  an  whole  people, 
collected  together  to  folemnize  the  burial 
of  a  perfon  of  his  rank  and  ftation,  are  a 
ftrong  evidence  of  his  fuperior  merit. 
Eulogiums  falling  thus  from  the  eyes  of  a 
w^hole  people,  (  if  I  may  fo  exprels  it) 
faUing  in  unbidden  tears  ;  or  burfling  from 
the  heart  in  involuntary  fighs  ;  are  louder, 
and  more  authentic  teltimonies  of  real 
w^orth  in  the  perfon,  who  is  the  occafion 
of  them,  than  the  labourVl  praifes  of  a 
thoufand  tongues,  however  eloquent. 
Such  tears,  fuch  fighs,  on  fuch  an  occafion, 
reveal  the  real  fentiments  of  the  foul  ; 
w'hile  a  great  pomp  of  words  often  ferves 
to  no  other  purpofc,  than  to  contradieT:,or 
difguife,  them.  Thus  it  was  that  Samvf  i^ 
was  praifed  when  he  died  ;  thcfe  were  the 
panegyrics  which  all  Ifrael  bellowV]  oit 
him  ;  or  rather,  which  the  remembrance 
of  his  virtues,  in  conjunftioix  with  the  fad 

fpedaclc 


lo  A    FUNERAL 


fpe(?lacle  of  his  venerable  remains  b.eforc 
their  eyes,  extorted  from  them. 

Bat  we  need  not  be  implicit  believers  in 
groans  and  tears,  even  in  thofe  of  an  whole 
nation.  For  if  we  look  into  the  hiftory 
of  Samuel,  we  fliall  eafily  difcover  the 
grounds  of  them  ;  and  fee  how  naturally 
and  JLiftly,  as  well  as  copioudy,  they  burll 
forth  on  that  occafion. 

We  have  a  particular  account  of  Sa- 
MU  E  l's  birth,  and  fome  extraordinary  cir- 
cumrtanccs  which  both  preceeded  and  fol- 
lowed it,  in  the  firil  chapter  of  the  firll 
book,  which  goes  u'nder  the  name  of  that 
c  m  i  n  e  n  t  p  e  rfo  n .  Butt  h  efe  1 1 1  i  n  gs  a  re  h  e  re 
palled  over  in  filcncc,  as  not  material,  or 
indeed  pertinent,  all  of  them,to  the  prefent 
occafion.  It  is  intimated  to  us  in  the 
fecond  chapter  of  that  book,  how  early 
Samuel  diftinguilhed  himfelf,  or  rather, 
was  diitinguiflied  by  God  ;  and  pointed 
out  as  a  perfon,  from  whom  great  things 
were  to  be  expccled  in  due  time.  '  For 
ir  is  faid,  "  the  child  Samuel  grew  on, 
*'  and  was  in  favour  both  with  the 
'^  Lord,  and  alfo  with  men.  "  *  -^nd 
in  the  bcgijuiing  of  the  third  chapter,  we 

read 

•  Ver.  26. 


DISCOURSE.  II 


read  of  "  the  (:/;/W  Samuel's  minidring 
"  unto  the  Lord  before  Eli  "  the  prieft. 
So  that,  even  in  his  tender  age,  he  was  a 
icrvant  and  minifter  of  the  Lord  ;  who 
foon  after  called  him  to,  and  honored  him 
with,  Lhe  facred  office  of  a  prophet.  And 
it  is  obferved  of  him,  towards  the  latter 
end  of  the  lall-mentioned  chapter,  that  he 
."  grew,  and  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and 
*'  did  let  none  of  his  w^ords  fall  to  the 
"  ground.  "  f 

It  will  not  be  impertinent  to  obferve 
here,  that  in  the  time  of  Samuel,  there 
were  in  Ifrael  certain  academies,  or  col- 
leges, ufaally  called  the  fchools  of  the 
fons  of  the  prophets  ;  becaufe  under  the 
immediate  direftion  and  government  of 
the  prophets.  In  thefe,  youth  were  in- 
ftrucled  in  ufeful  learning,  efpecially 
in  the  knowledge  of  God's  law  ;  and 
from  amongft  them,  God  ufually  raifed  up, 
and  chofe  the  prophets,  which  he  fent  to 
his  people  lirael.  Nor  is  there  any  reafoa 
to  doubt,  but  that  Samuel  had  his  edu- 
cation in  one  of  thefe  fchools.  For  one 
of  them,  named  Naioth,  was  in  the  city 
of  Ramah,^  the  place  of  Samuel's  birth, 
where  his  father  lived,  where  he  himfelf 

waa 

t  Ver.19.     *  Vid.  I  Sam.  XIX.   19,  c 2,  and  a^^. 


iz  A   FUNERAL 


was  brought  up  from  a  child,  where  his 
own  houfe  was  afterwards,  where  he  com- 
monly lived,  and  where  he  was  buried. 
And  we  are  particularly  informed,  [i  Sam. 
XIX  chap.]  that  during  the  troubles,  and 
pubUc  commotions,  occafioned  by  Saufs 
perfecuting  David,  Saul's  meffengers  being 
lent  in  purfuit  of  David  to  Naiotby  "  faw 
"  the  company  of  the  prophets  prophefy- 
'•  ing,  and  Samuel  Handing  as  appointed 
*^  over  them  ;  "  f  he  being  at  this  time  ad- 
vanced in  years.  Now,  confidering  the 
cuftom  of  thofe  days,  and  that iV^/c?//;,  that 
truly  iUujlrious  fchool^  was  in  Ramah,  where 
Samuel  was  boxn  and  brought  up  ;  and 
that  he  was  afterwards  himfelf  appointed 
an  inftruftor  and  governor  therein  ;  there 
feems  to  be  no  room  to  doubt,  but  that  he 
had  his  education  in  it  in  his  youth  ;  tho' 
I  do  not  remember,  indeed,  that  this  is 
any  where  particularly  aflerted. 

But  to  return:  After  Samuel  had  been 
fome  time  cloathed  Avith  the  facred 
charafter  of  a  prophet,  when  he  was  about 
thirty  or  forty  years  of  age,  he  was  invef- 
tcd  with  an  high  civil  office;  that  of  judge, 
or  the  chief  magiftrate  in  Ifrael.  For  in 
thofe  days,  before  the  introdudion  of  mo- 
narchical 

f  Vcr,  2^. 


DISCOURSE.  13 


narcliical  government,  the  fupreme  civil 
ruler  in  I^-ael  was  (tiled  a  judge,  or  the 
judge.  In  the  execution  of  which  office, 
S  A  M  u  E  L  ufed  to  travel  from  one  part  of  the 
country  to  another, holding  his  courts,  and 
diftributing  juftice  to  the  people,in  the  moil 
convenient  places;  and  then  returning  to 
Ramah:  which,  even  in thofe  days  ,  was 
called  going  in  "  circuit".  Of  thefe  fads 
we  are  informed  i  Sam.  chap.  VII.  Viz. 
that  SaiMUEl  "  went  from  year.to  3^ear  in 
"  circuit  toBethel,  andGilgal,andMizpeh; 
"  arid  judged  Ifrael  in  all  thofe  places. 
*'  And  his  return  was  to  Ramah ;  for  there 
**  washishoufe:  and  there  he  built  an  altar 
"  unto  theLord.J"  And  we  are  informed 
in  the  fame  chapter,  that  he  thus  judged 
"  Ifrad  all  the  days  of  his  life.  *  "  From 
which  latter  circumfl:ance,as  well  as  from 
other  things,  we  learn,  that  Samuel  held 
the  office  of  a  judge  in  Ifrael,  when  he 
was  no  longer  the  chief  ruler  therein,  under 
king  Saul,  when  the  form  of  government 
was  changed.  For  Samuel  was  the 
pcrfon  chiefly  concerned,  and  employed, 
under  God,  in  raifing  Saul  to  the  throne 
of  Ifrael  ;  as  appears  from  the  particular 
account  of  thefe  matters  in  facred  writ. 
At  prefent  I  pafs  them  over   with  a  bare 

'    men- 

t  Vcr.  16,  17.         *  Vcr,  15. 


14  A    FUNERAL 


jmention.  I  alio  pafs  over,  even  with- 
out a  mention,  many  fignalferviccs  which 
Samuel  did  to  the  people  of  Ifrael ;  and 
many  bleffings  which  he  was  inftrument^l 
of  procuring  for  them  from  heaven. 

This  renowned  man  appears  to  have 
been  an  excellent  patriot;  one  of  the  greateft 
and  beft  that  the  w^orld  has  known.  He 
intireJy  loved  his  country  ;  and  was  ever 
properly  jealous  for  its  laws  and  liberties. 
He  not  only  exerted  himfelf  fuccefsfully 
in  their  defence  againfl:  foreign  enemies  ; 
but  did  whatever  lay  in  his  power  to  fe- 
cure  them  againil  the  equally,  or  more 
dangerous  efforts  of  ambition,  intrigue, 
and  tyranny  within.  His  great  zeal  for  the 
laws,  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people, 
appears  not  only  from  his  fteady  and  up- 
right conduft  in  the  capacity  of  a  judge, 
of  wiiich  more  particularly  hereafter  ;  but 
from  his  behaviour  upon  fome  very  fignal 
occafions,  which  fhould  not  be  intirely 
omitted  here. 

When  the  people  w^qre  difgufted,  not 
without  fnfficient  reafon,  at  the  conduct 
of  two  of  Samuel's  fons,  and  doubtlefs 
had  their  pafTions  blown  up  by  fome  evil- 
minded  perfons,  dcfirous  of  novelty  and 

change ; 


DISCOURSE.  IS 


change ;  they  manifefled  themfelves  weary 
of  the  free  and  excellent  form  of  govern- 
ment, which  God  himfelf  had  inftituted 
amongft  them  ;  they  required  a  change 
therein,  and  requefted  Samuel  to  fet  a 
king,  or  abfolute  monarch,over  them,'' like 
"  all  the  nations  §"  about  them.  Samuel 
earneftly  expoftulated  with  them  on  the 
fubje6t  of  this  mad  propofal  ;  not  for  his 
own  fake,  left  his  power  fhould  be  dimi- 
nifhed,  but  becaufe  he  forefaw  the  evils, 
the  oppreflions,  and  the  grievous  flavery, 
they  would  bring  upon  themfelves  by  fuch 
a  change  of  government.  But  having 
"  protefled  fde-mnly  unto  them,  and  fhew- 
^'  ed  them  the  manner  of  the  king  "  ;  and 
w^hen  nothing  elfe  w^ould  appeafe  them, 
he  gave  w^ay  to  their  importunate  cla- 
mours ;  h^  "hearkened  to  their  voice,  *^ 
and  anointed  Saul  to  be  their  king,  accor- 
ding to  the  divine  direction.  For  it  feems 
that  God  himfelf  would  not  preferve  them 
a  free  people,  againft  their  own  will ;  and 
therefore ''  gave  them  a  king  in  his  anger ;" 
to  fcourge  them  for  their  folly,  and  for 
their  rebellion  againft  himfelf.  However, 
at  length,  when  Samuel's  prediction 
hadf  doubtlefs,  been  fufficiently  verified, 
and  Saul's  reign  was  grown  infupportable, 

Samuel 

§  Vid.  I  Sam.  VIII.  at  large. 


i6  A    FUNERAL 


Samuel  was  a  principal  inftrument  of 
fetting  him  afide  ]  and  he  anointed  David 
the  fon  of  Jefle,  a  man  after  God's  own 
heart,  to  fit  upon  the  throne  of  Ifrael  in 
his  flead.  Now  amidft  all  this  madnefs 
of  the  people,  thefe  turns  and  revolutions 
of  government,  Samuel  ftill  difcovered 
himfelf  to  be  a  true  patriot,  zealous  for 
the  liberties  and  interefls  of  his  country  : 
Equally  fo/ui  difcountenancing,  and  enter- 
ing his  proteftation  againft,  their  firft  de- 
mand of  a  king  ;  in  complying  therewith 
when  nothing  elfe  would  fatisfy  them  ;  in 
fetting  aftde  their  king,  when  his  be- 
haviour became  intolerable  ;  and  anoint- 
ing a  far  better  man  to  reign  in  his  ftead. 
All  which,it  mufi:  be  remembred,SAMUEL 
did,  not  without  the  particular  permiffion 
and  direction  of  heaven ;  as  appears  at  large 
from  the  remarkable  hiftory  of  thcfe  tran- 
factions. 

It  may  not  be  amifs  to  obferve  farther 
here,  that  while  Saul  fat  upon  the  throne, 
Samuel  did  not  only  continue  in  the  ex- 
ecutive office  of  a  judge  in  Ifrael  ^  but  was, 
at  lead  for  a  time,  one  of  his  chief  coun- 
fellors.  We  read  of  his  giving  him  advice 
from  time  to  time  ;  and  freely  reproving 
liim  for  his  faults  :    Tho'  he  adhered  to 

him 


DISCOURSE.  ly 


him,  till  God  fignificd  his  intention  to  de- 
ftroy  him  for  his  bad  behaviour.  After 
which,  Samuel  renounced  him,  anointed 
David,  adhered  to  him  and  his  caufe  ;  and 
was  his  chief  advifer  and  counfellor,  as 
long  as  he  [  Samuel  ]  Uved. 

But  having  jufl:  obferved  thefe  things, 
it  is  now  time  to  fpeak  more  particularly 
of  SaxMUEl's  integrity  in  the  capacity  of 
a  judge  :  For  this  is  the  character  under 
which  he  is  more  commonly  confidered. 
And  to  his  fideUty  in  this  important 
trull,  we  have  one  very  authentic,  indeed 
a  very  lingular,  teftimony,  in  facred  hifto- 
ry  ;  one,  which  is  fo  full,  that  it  will 
fuperfede  the  occafion,  at  leaft  the  ne- 
cefFity,  for  any  others.  It  h  in  the  12th 
chapter  of  that  book  which  has  been  fo 
often  mentioned  already,  at  the  beginning. 
It  appears  from  the  lalt  verfe  of  the  fore- 
going chapter,  that  all  the  people  were 
gathered  together  at  Gilgal,  to  confirm 
the  kingdom  to  Saul,  and  to  eftabhfli  him 
in  the  throne  of  Ifrael  ;  he  having  been 
before  anointed  king  by  Samuel.  And 
they  being  thus  gathered  together,  Sa- 
muel, already  grown  old  in  their  fervice, 
took  this  moft  public,  and  folemn  occa- 
iion,  to  appeal  to  their  own  confciences 

for 


i8  A    FUNERAL 


for  the  uprightnefs  of  all  his  conduct  to- 
wards them  ;  when  he  alfo challenged  all,  ' 
or  any  of  them,  to  bear  witnefs  againfl 
him  before  the  Lord,  and  before  Saul  his 
anointed,  who  had  now  power  to  punifli 
him,  if  they  could  alledge  any  thing  a- 
gainft  him. 

There  is  at  once  fuch  a  noble  boldnefs, 
fuch  a  limplicity,  and  fuch  a  dignity,  in 
this  appeal  and  challenge  of  Samuel, that 
I  quellion  whether  the  repetition  of  it  at 
large,  will  feem  tedious  on  this  occafion, 
to  any  who  have  a  true  tafte  and  judg- 
ment :  I  rather  think  it  will  be  agreeable 
and  entertaining.  It  is  as  follows  :  "  Be- 
"  hold,  I  have  hearkned  to  your  voice  in 
"  all  that  ye  have  faid  unto  me,  and  have 
"  made  a  king  over  you.  And  now  be- 
''  hold  the  king  walketh  before  you  : 
''  and  I  am  old,  and  gray-headed ;  and 
"  behold,  my  fons  are  with  you  ;  and  I 
"  have  walked  before  you  from  my  child- 
"  hood  to  this  day.  Behold,  here  I  am, 
"  witnefs  againft  me  before  the  Lord, 
''  and  before  his  anointed.  Whofe  ox 
"  have  I  taken  ?  or  whofe  afs  have  I  ta- 
"  ken?  or  whom  have  I  defrauded  ? 
*'  wham  have  I  oppreffed  ?  or  of  whofe 
"  hand  have  I  received  any  bribe  to  blind 

"  mine 


DISCOURSE.  19 


^'  mine  eyes  therewith  ?  and  I  will  reflore 
*'  it  to  you  *  "     Wc  may  lee,  in  this  chal- 
lenge, that   inimitable   kind   of  boldnefs 
which  a  good  confcience  infpires  ;  fuch  a 
boldnefs,  as  furpaiTes  all  the  power  of  art, 
and  the  deepeft  hypocrify,  to  counterfeit 
fo  exactly,  but  that  fomc  difference  might 
be  difcovered  by  a  penetrating  eye.     And 
you  will  be  pleafed   to  obferve,  that  this 
appeal  and    demand   are  general.     Tho* 
Samuel  here  fpeaks  with  particular  refe- 
rence ^to  his  conduct  in  the  capacity  of  a 
judge  ;  yet   he  refers  the  people  to  his 
manner  of  life  in  general,  even  from  his 
childhood  to  that  day.      His  demand  ex- 
tends to  his  whole  conduft  towards  them. 
He  does  not  only  acquit  himfelf  of  cor- 
ruption, or  receiving  bribes  ;  but,  "Whom 
"  have  I  defrauded  ?  "  fays  he  ;  "  Whom 
•'  have  I  oppreilcd  :  "  i.  e.  in  any  refpe6l 
wiiatever,  from  my  youth  to  old  age,  not- 
withflanding  my  opportunity  and  power 
to  opprefs,in  the  high  ftation  which  I  have 
filled  ?   Let  my  accufer  now  (land  forth  ; 
and  freely  bear  witnefs  againlt  me  before 
God  and  the  king.      This  is  the  evident 
purport  of  liis  words, 

Alas! 

*  I  Sam.  Xn.  I,  2,  3. 


A    FUNERAL 


Alas  !  how  few  judges,  or  other  perfons 
in  high  ftations,  wherein  they  have  op- 
portunity to  opprefs,  and  to  do  iniquity, 
are  there  in  moft  countries,  who  would 
dare  to  make  the  like  demand  in  the  face 
of  a  whole  people  I  Or,  if  they  prefumed 
to  do  fo,  how  many  mouths  would,  pro- 
bably, be  at  once  opened  againft  them, 
to  teftify  their  iniquity  to  their  faces,  be- 
fore God  and  the  king  ? — -I  fay,  "  in  moft 
countries  ;  "  for  I  would,  by  no  means,  be 
fupppfed  to  fpeak  thus  of  all  without  ex- 
ception ;  which  might  be  a  very  injurious 
refleftion ;  and,  at  beft,  a  great  indecency. 
-*~But  was  there  a  tongue  in  the  whole 
congregation  of  Ifrael,  tho'  there  were 
doubtlefs  many  falfe  and  unruly  ones 
therein- — Was  there  a  tongue,  fo  intempe- 
rate and  flanderous,  as  to  lifp  a  word  a- 
gainft  Samuel,  or  his  integrity  ?  No  !  All 
the  people  anfwered  as  one  man,  "  Thou 
*'  haft  not  defrauded  us,  nor  opprefted  us, 
"  neither  haft  thou  taken  ought  of  any 
*'  man's  hand.  And  he  faid  unto  them, 
"  The  Lord  is  WMtnefs  againft  you,  and  his 
*'  anointed  is  witnefs  this  day,  that  ye  have 
"  not  found  ought  in  my  hand.  And  they 
•*  anfweredjHe  is  witnefs/'  * — O  happy  ! 
O  venerable  man!  fo  long  the  chief  judge 

and 

*  Ver.  4,  ^ 


D  ISC  O  U.  RSE.  21 


and  magiftrate  in  Ifrael,  with  fo  much 
opportunity  and  power  to  do  iniquity  ; 
yet  fteady  in  the  praftice  of  all  righteouf- 
nefs,  till  thy  reverend  head  was  covered 
with  thefaow  of  age  ;  and  then  approved 
by  the  united  voice  of  thy  own  confci- 
ence,  thy  country,  and  thy  God  I — Hap- 
py, venerable  Samuel  ! — • 

It  might  naturally  have  been  expefled, 
that  at  the  death  and  burial  of  fuch  a 
judge,  fuch  a  patriot  in  Ramah,  there 
would  be  "  a  voice  heard,  lamentation 
"  and  weeping,  and  great  mourning,  [like 
that  of]  "  Rachel  weeping  for  her  chil- 
"  dren",  when  fhe  "  would  not  be  com- 
"  forted  *  "  :  Or  like  that,  when  the 
bloody  tyrant,  Herod,  commanded  the 
children  to  be  flain.  It  would  have  been 
indeed  ftrange,  if  all  Ifrael  had  not  lamen- 
ted when  Sa  MU  E  l  died  ;  when  they  were 
afTembled  to  bury  him,  and  his  venerable 
remains  were  before  their  eyes,  to  be  re- 
pofited  in  the  filent  tomb,  not  to  awake 
till  the  laft  day  ;  tho'  then  to  arife  all  glo- 
rious, *'  mortality  being  fwallowed  up  of 
"  victory  !  " 

C  Their 

*Matt.  II.  i6. 17. 18.  Rama  aod  Ramah  were  the  famcclt^* 


A    FU  NERAL 


Their  lamenting  him  thus,  was  but  the 
natural  confequence  of  that  high  and  jull 
veneration  which  they  had  for  him  while 
living ;  which  was  fo  great,  that  on  a 
certain  occafion  we  find  it  cxprelbd  in 
the  ver}^  remarkable  manner  following  : 
All  the  people  greatly  feared  the  Lord 
*'  and  Samuel,  f  "  And  let  me  here  juft 
remind  j^ou  of  two  or  three  other  paffages, 
wherein  he  is  mentioned  with  the  hif^heft 
honor,  in  company  with  the  moil  renown- 
ed perfons  of  antiquity.  So  inPfalm  XCIX. 
''  Mofes  and  Aaron  among  the  priefls, 
"  and  Samuel  amongthem  that  call  up- 
'•^  on  his  name  '\  And  in  Jeremiah  XV, 
at  the  beginning,  God  feems  to  exprcfs 
his  anger  againfl  his  people  for  their  ini- 
quities in  the  ftrongeft  manner  poflible, 
almoft,  by  faying,  that  "  though  Mofes 
"  and  Samuel  Itood  before  him  ",  [  as 
intcrceflors  for  them  ]  '^  yet  his  mind 
"  could  not  be  towards  this  people  :  Caft 
*'  them  out  of  my  right,and  let  them  go— I 
Thusalfo  Samuel  is  mentioned,  Hebrews 
XI,  amongil  thole,  "  of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy.  " — "  The  time  would 
"  fail  me, '  fays  theapoftle,  ''  to  tell  of  Gi- 
"  d'con,  and  of  Barak,  and  of  Sampfon, 
"  and  of  Jepthae,  of  David  alfo  and 
''I  of  Sa^jIUel  ;•— who  thro'  faith  fubdued 

"  kingdoms, 

t  -»m.  XII.  i8. 


D  ISC  O  U  RSF.  23 


"  kingdoms,  wrought  righteoufaefs,  8cc/' 
Theie  all  obtained  a  good  report  thro* 
faith  ;  and  died  therein  ;  even  in  the  hope 
of  '•  obtaining  a  better  refurrection." 


BUT  it  is  time  for  ns  to  make  a  tran- 
fition  (  indeed  a  very  eafy  one  )  from 
Samuel,  the  renowned  judge  of  Ifrael, 
to  that  mofl  worthy  judge,  whom  the  laft 
evening  we  attended  to  "  the  houfe  ap- 
pointed for  all  the  living  "  ;  at  leaft,  what- 
ever was  mortal  of  him. —  And  fince,  up- 
on fimilar  occafions,  people  ufuallyexpecl 
fome  (hort  hiftorical  account  of  the  decea- 
fed,efpecially  if  aperfon  offuch  eminence  ; 
rather  than  difappoint  any,  I  will  begin 
with  a  few  words  concerning  the  birth 
and  parentage  of  this  excellent  perfon ; 
tho'  thefe  are  matters  of  much  lefs  im- 
portance than  mod  others  which  I  have 
to  fay  of  him  ;  and  which,  in  the  mean 
time,  are  prefling,  as  it  were,  to  be  the 
foremoft. 

The  late  chief  juftice  Sewall  was  fjo» 
norably  defcended ;  to  ufe  a  common  phrafe^^ 
tho'  one  hardly  applicable,  in  ftriclnefs,  to 
any  of  the  degenerate  race  of  mankind. 
He  was  of  a  family  of  diftinftion  in  New- 
C  2  England. 


A    FU  N  ERAL 


England.  Nor  was  he  the  firft  of  the 
name  of  Sewall,  who  fuftained  the  fame 
titles  and  offices.  The  honorable  Samuel 
Sewall,  Efq;  his  uncle,  had  before  for 
many  years,  been  chief  juftice  of  the  pro- 
vince, and  ametnberof  his  majefly*s  coun- 
cil ;  a  gentleman,  eminent  in  his  day  for 
his  learning,  piety,  and  great  probity,  f 
The  father  ofthe  late  judge  Sew^all,  was 
Stephen  Sewall,  Efq;  oi  Salem  ;  ou 
all  accounts  a  very  worthy,  refpedable 
gentleman  ;  and  univerfally  fo  cftecmed 
in  his  time  *.  His  mother  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev'd  and  celebrated  Mr.  Jo- 
N  a  T  H  A  N  Mi  T  G  H  e  L,  paftor  of  the  church 
in  Cambridge  ;  a  gentlewoman  of  great 
virtues,  and  uncommon  accomplifhments. 
His  parents  were  bleft  with  feventeen 
children  ;  divers  of  whom,  befidcs  the  late 
judge,  were  perfons  of  dillin^f  ion,  and  of 
great  worth  in  public  life.  §   He  was  the 

youngeft 

•j-  Since  delivering  this  dlfcourfe,  the  author  has  been  in- 
fo- v-ed  that  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  P'-ince  c\\o{c  the  cha- 
ra^'ler  of  Samuel  to  be  the  ground  of  his  funeral  fer- 
nton  on  ^n^t  vcRerable  gentleman;  which  difcourfe 
was  pobUfherl  •  but  which  the  author  of  this,  has  not, 
fo  fiir  as  he  remembers .  had  the  pleafure  of  reading. 

*  He  was  the  county-reoifter,  a  very  noted  jnllice  of  the 
peacr  a  m  ior  in  the  miHtia.  !}nd  captain  of  the  fort  at 
Sal  m  :  all  which  pofts  he  fulbined  with  great  repu- 
tation .ind  honor. 

§'Pdrti-ul^rly  the  late  Major  Samuel  Senvall,  Efq;  of 
BofioTif  and  Mitchel  Sewall,  Efy,  late  o^Sahm. 


DISCO  U  RSE.  25 


youngcn:,  except  one,  of  many  brethren  ; 
and  WHS  bovn  in  December  1702.  Being 
duly  prepared,  he  was  admitted  into 
Harvard-College  in  Cambrifigey  in  the  year 
17 1 7,  when  he  was  in  the  15th  year  of 
his  age. 

He  was  a  "  plant  of  renown'*  in  that 
feminary  of  learning,  even  from  the  time 
of  his  being  tranfplanted  into  it  from  an 
inferior  fchool.  He  was  early  diftinguifh- 
ed  by  the  fprightlinefs  and  brillancy  of  his 
genius,  and  by  the  rapid  progrefs  which 
he  made  in  academical  learning :  which, 
in  conjunftion  with  an  agreeable  perfon, 
a  chearful,  affable  difpofition,  and  fingular 
delicacy  of  manners,  rendered  him  at  once 
the  delight,  and  the  admiration,  of  that  fo- 
ciety.  And  altho'  he  was,  of  the  two,  ra- 
ther of  a  gay  than  of  a  grave  turn,  3'^et  this 
was  never  indulged  to  excefs  ;  but  always 
rertrained  within  the  rules  of  virtue,  and 
a  itricl  decorum.  His  morals  were  ftill 
unblemifhed  ;  and  his  life,  not  only  inof- 
fenfive,  but  exemplary.  This  is  not  faid 
at  random,  or  as  a  thing  of  courfe;  but  up- 
^  on  the  authority  of  thofe  who  were  co- 
temporary  with  him  in  that  fociety.  So 
that  there  is  reafon  to  think,  he  truly  fear- 
ed God  from  his  youth. 

On 


z6  A    FUNERAL 


>  On  his  leaving  that  fchool  of  the  foris  of 
the  prophets,  foon  after  receiving  the  firft 
public  honors  of  it  at  the  iifnal  time,  anno 
1 72  f ,  w  hen  he  was  confider'd  as  one  of  the 
brighteft  fcholars  it  had  ever  produced,  he 
took  up  his  refidence  in  one  of  our  fea- 
port  towns*.  Here  his  fine  talents  were 
for  foiTie  time  very  ufefully,  tho'  humbly 
employed,  in  keeping  a  fchool.  For,  be- 
iides  thac  his  patrimony  could  not  be  great, 
as  may  eafily  be  fuppofcd,  he  never  thought 
himfelf  above  doing  any  thing,  by  which 
he  might  be  ferviceable  in  the  world.  And 
he  was  in  high  efteem  amongft  the  gen- 
tlemen of  that  town  ;  who,  as  all  wife 
and  good  men  have  ever  done,  confidered 
rather  the  perfonand  his  accompliflimenls, 
than  the  fphcre  in  which  he  acted. 

However,  at  the  expiration  of  about  three 
or  four  years  (for  I  do  not  exactly  know 
the  time)  he  returned  to  Cambridge,  and 
betook  himfelf  to  a  collegiate  life  ;  where 
he  purfued  his  ftudies  with  great  fuccefs, 
and  a  growing  fame  :  For  while  he  was 
thus  a  liudent  at  the  college,  he  was  ef- 
teemed  one  principal  ornament  and  honor 
to  it. 

After 

*  Marhhhead. 


DISCOURSE.  27 


After  refidiDg  therein  a  fuitable  time  ; 
and  when,  befides  other  very  vaUiable  ac- 
quirements in   the  literary   w^iy,  he  had 
made  great  proficiency  in  ilicred  learning, 
and  the  lUidy  of  theology,  he  became  a 
preacher  of  the  gofpel,  minillring  before 
the  Lord  and  his  people  ;  tho'  not  while 
"  a  child,"  as  Samuel  did,  and  as  fomc 
others  fince,  without  Samuel's  extraor- 
dinary call,  or  qualifications,  have  prefum- 
ed  to  do. — It  were  almoft  necdlefs  to  ob- 
ferve,  that  his   public  performances  as  a 
preacher  of  the  gofpel,  were  truly  excel- 
lent :  For  fuch  a  genius,  fo  cultivated  and 
m.acur'd,  join'd  witli  a  good,  devout  and 
warm  heart,  like  his,  could,  certainly,  pro- 
duce nothing  but  what  was  fo.     He  was, 
without  doubt,  one  of  the   moft  accom- 
plifh'd  preachers  of  his  time  ;  and  was  ac- 
knowledged as  fuch  by  all  competent  and 
unprejudiced  judges,  efpecially  by  the  bell. 
It  was  indeed  his  felicity  in  every  ftation 
and  capacity,  a  felicity  almoft  peculiar  to 
him,  to  be  moft  efteem'd  and  honored  by 
the  wifeft  and   worthieft  men,  while  all 
others,  even   the  common  people,  could 
not  but  fee  and  acknowdedge  his  fuperior 
merit. 

He  was  at  length,  upon  a  vacancy,  in 
the  year  1728,  chofen  a  tutor  of  the  col- 
lege, 


28  A    FUNERAL 


lege,  where  he  was  (till  a  refidcnt :   A  Na- 
tion, for   which  his  talents  were  uncoin- 
monly  adapcd;    and  which  he  continued 
to  fill  feveral  years,  without  laying  afide 
that  facred  employment  wherein   he  had 
•before   been   engaged.      However,   after 
{o'rix^i  time,  he  laid  that  wholly  afide  ;  de- 
voting himfelf  to  the  difcharge  of  his  truft 
as  a   tutor  of  the  college.     And,  as  may 
eaiily  be  concluded,  he,  who  was  fo  bright 
an  ornament  of  that  learned  fociety,  even 
during  the  time  of  his  own  pupillage,  and 
before   his  years   of  puberty   were   paft, 
fhone  with  a  very  diiiinguilli'd  luilre  in 
the  capacity  of  one  of  the  governors  and 
inftructors  of  it ;  when  he  had  attained  to 
fuch  a  maturity  of  age  ;  when  he  had  been 
all  alo!ig  adding  to  his  great  ftock  of  learn- 
ing an.l  knowledge,  and   had  alfo  gained 
confiderable  experience,  f 

His  genius  and  talents,  as  before  obferv- 
er^,  were  wonderfully  adapted  to  this  em- 
ployment. And  it  was  in  this  capacity, 
that  fome  of  his  excellent  endowments, 
both  natural  and  acquired,  appeared  to 
more  advantage  than  they  had  ever  done, 
or  could,  in  any  other,  wherein  he  had 
acted  before.     It  w^as  in  this  ftation,  that 

his 

t  ;Etat  26. 


DISCOURSE.  s^ 


his  learning,  before  indeed  well  known, 
became  ftill  more  confpicuous ;  and  not 
only  his  learning,  but  his  great  happinefs 
and  facility  in  teaching,  and  communica- 
ting knowledge :  Both,  now  difplay'd 
themfelves  to  the  full,  there  being  proper 
fcope  for  them  ;  while  he  took  a  pleafure, 
not  in  an  oftentatioua  difcovery  of  his  own 
fuperior  talents,  but  in  making  them  ufe- 
ful  to  others.  It  was  in  this  capacity,  that 
his  admirable  fpirit  of  government  became 
manifeft  to  all.  It  was  in  this  capacity, 
that  his  exquifite  prudence  and  difcretion 
became  more  apparent,  by  his  manner  of 
conducing  towards  the  youth  of  that  fo- 
ciety,  in  the  happieft  medium  between  too 
much  aufterity  and  rigor  on  one  hand, 
and  remilTnefs,  or  familiarity,  on  the  other. 
In  this  ftation  he,  at  leafl  continued  to 
difcover  a  great,  inviolable  regard,  to  re- 
ligion and  virtue.  I  fay,  "  at  leafl  con- 
tinued'' to  do  fo  ;  becaufe  it  was,  perhaps, 
hardly  poffible  to  difcover  that  particular 
quality  in  this  ftation,  more  plainly  thain 
he  had  done  before.  However,  he  now 
made  it  one  principal  part  of  his  care,  to 
guard  his  pupils  againft  the  fnares  of  vice; 
and  to  form  their  minds,  as  far  as  this  was 
in  the  power  of  man,  to  the  love  of  piety 
and  virtue.     In  doing  which^  he  negleft- 

ed 


30  A    FUNERAL 


ed  neither  the  moft  kind,  ferious  and  pa- 
thetic counfels  on  one  hand,  nor  the  exer- 
cife  of  his  authority  on  the  other,  when- 
ever there  was  a  proper  occalion  and  call 
to  employ  it.  In  this  flation  he  Ihew'd, 
in  a  way  almoft  peculiar  to  himfelf,  how 
confiftent  the  mod  refolute  and  vigorous 
exertion  of  authority  is  with  the  moft 
courteous,  condefcending  temper  of  mind, 
and  the  moft  gentle,  complacent  manners. 
For  I  believe  he  had  hardly  a  pupil  fo 
abandoned,  as  not  at  once  to  love  him  as 
his  beft  friend,  and  to  revere  him  as  a 
father  ;  I  had  almoft  faid,  as  his  guardian, 
angel  I  Vice  turn'd  pale,  trembled,  and  fled 
at  his  frown  ;  or  even  at  the  caft  of  his 
countenance  without  one.  Virtue  ap- 
proached, exulted,  and  was  improved  at 
his  fmile :  while  learning  and  arts  flourifh'd 
under  his  eye  in  that  feminary,  like  the 
goodly  flowers  in  Eden  under  the  warm, 
all-eniivenino;  beam  of  heaven.  And  there 
are  now  amongfl:  us  many  perfons,  great 
bleffings  both  in  the  church  and  ftate,  as 
well  as  in  more  common  life,  who  had  the 
happinefs  to  receive  their  education  im- 
mediately under  him.  In  one  word,  I  be- 
lieve there  is  no  perfon,  however  worthy, 
who  would  think  his  own  merit  impair'd, 
or  his  honor  touch'd,  if  it  fhould  be  added, 

that 


D  ISCOU  RSE.  31 


that  confidcring  his  ftation  in  the  college, 
and  the  time  he  continued  therein,  that 
learned  fociety  never  enjoyed  a  greater 
blefling  and  ornament  in  any  one  man, 
than  in  Mr.  Sewall.  And  I  can  hardly 
think  of  him  in  this  ftation,  without  hav- 
ing my  thoughts  carried  back  to  Samuel, 
,  at  Naioth,  amongft  the  fons  of  the  pro- 
phets, as  one  "  appointed  over  them."  J 

While  Mr.  Sewall  was   arefident  at 
the  college,  more   efpecially  towards  the 
latter  part  of  the  time,  he  applied  himfelf 
to  the  ftudy  of  the  law,  as  much  as  he  well 
could    without  neglecting  the  proper  du- 
ties of  his  ftation  ;  in  the  difcharge  where- 
of he  was  ever  diUgentand  faithful.     This 
he  did  with  a  view  to  changing  his  man- 
ner of  life,  and  betaking  himfelf  to  the  bar. 
And  only  to  have  mentioned  his  applying 
his  mind  in  any  meafure  to  this  ftudy,  is 
equivalent  to  faying,  that  he  foon  acquired 
a  very  confiderable  knowledge  in  the  law. 
For  his  genius  was  fo  piercing,  and  his  na- 
tural penetration  at  once  fo  deep  and  quick, 
that  no  fcience,  however  crabbed,  intricate 
or  involved,  could  long  make  oppofitioa 
thereto     In  whatever  he  engaged,  he  be- 
came 

J  T  he  author  of  this  difcourfe  did  not  indeed  enter  into 
the  college,  till  the  year  after  Mr.  Senva/Ileft  it:  But 
nothing  is  faid  abOTei  but  upon  good  authority. 


32  A    FUNERAL 


came  a  confiderable  proficient  therein,  as 
it  were  at  once :  fo  furprifingly  quick  was 
his  apprehenfion  of  things ;  fo  clear  his 
iicad ;  fo  acute  and  deep  his  difcernment. 

Being  thus  qualified,  he  was,  in  the  year 
1739,  called  from  his  collegiate,  into  an 
higher  fphereof  hfe  ;  viz.  to  take  a  feat  on 
the  bench  of  the  fuperiour  court  of  judica- 
ture for  the  province.  This  w^as  done 
without  his  making  any  intereft  for  it. — • 
And  it  was  well  for  his  country  that  many 
perfons,  and  amongft  them,  gentlemen  of 
authority  and  influence  in  the  government, 
were  acquainted  with  his  great  abilities  and 
merit ;  to  which  he  himfelf  ever  appeared 
more  a  flranger  than  any  other  perfon, 
"who  had  any  knowledge  of  him.  And 
Samuel's  being  cloathed  with  a  civil 
charader,  after  being  fome  tim.e  in  other 
employments,  is  here  brought  to  mind — 

In  this  new  ftation  he  became  more 
generally  known,  and  therefore  more  ge- 
nerally eflecmed;  as  well  as,  perhaps,  more 
exteniively  ufeful.  His  wiidom  and  in- 
tegrity were  fo  confpicuous  herein,  and 
gave  him  fuch  an  acknowledged  pre- 
eminence^ that  on  the  death  of  tlie  ho- 
norable and  learned  chief  juftice  Dudley, 

he 


DISCO  U  RSE.  33 


he  was,  in  1752,  appointed  to  fuccced  him 
in  that  important  office  ;  to  the  general  fa- 
tisfadion,  and  even  joy  of  the  province  ; 
altho'  he  was  not  the  fenior  of  the  thea 
worthy  furviving  judges. 

This  promotion,  which  was  not  only 
unfollicited,  but  even  opposed  by  himfelf, 
without  altering  his  mind  or  manners  in 
the  leaft,  ftill  enlarged  the  fphereof  his  in- 
jRuence ;  that  influence,  wiiich  was  ever 
ufeful  juft:  fo  far  as  it  extended  ;  being  ne- 
ver emplo}^,  biit  in  doing  good,  or  pre- 
venting evil ;  which  is  in  effeft  the  fame 
thing.  He  fuftained  this  high  office  witli 
the  reputation  of  great  wifdom,  and  of 
ftrift  fidelity.  He  alfo  fupported  the  dig- 
nicy  of  it,  by  his  conduct  in  it.  For,  tho' 
he  was  truly  a  mofl  humble  and  modeft 
man  ;  yet  he  well  knew  what  was  due 
to  his  ftation.  Nor  did  he,  by  any  means, 
want  the  refolution  to  maintain,  and  to 
vindicate  the  honor  of  it,  as  occafion  re- 
quired. He  had  indeed  the  quickeft,  as 
well  as  the  exaclcft  fenfe,  of  true  honor : 
And  he  difcovered  in  this  capicity,  from 
firll  to  lad,  that  admirable  fpirit  of  go- 
vernment which  was  mentioned  before 
on  another  occafion.  He  preferved  a 
great  decorum  in  the  court :  He  mode- 


rat^"^ 


3+  A    FUNERAL 


rated  the  debates  with  a  becoming  calm- 
ncfs  and  dignity,  in  conjundion  with  a 
ftrid  impartiahty  :  Shewing  himfelf  at 
once  the  man  of  honor  and  fpirit,  the 
knowing  lawyer,  and  the  upright  judge. 

Altho'  his  reputation  was  great,  even  at 
his  firft  coming  upon  the  bench,  it  was 
daily  growing  till  the  time  when  heaven 
was  pleafed  to  take  him  from  it.     He  was 
both  "  a  terror  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praife 
to  them  that  did  well,"  in  the  adminiftrati- 
on  of  juftice  ;  in  which  he  went  from  one 
part  of  the  country  to  another,  like  a  fe- 
cond  Samuel.     And,  where  "  his  return 
w^as,"  we  all  know.     Nor  is  there  the  leaft 
reafon  to  doubt,  but  that  he  might  to  the 
very  laft,  have  appealed  to  the  whole  pro- 
vince, asSAMUEL  did  to  alllfrael,  boldly 
challenging  them  to  witnefs   any  wrong, 
or  unrighteoufnefs  in  him,  in  the  very  lan- 
guage of  that  good  judge;  — "Whom  have 
"  I  defrauded  ?  whom  have  I  opprefTed  I 
"  or  of  whofe  hand  have  I  received  any 
"  bribe  to  blind  mine  eyes  therewith  ?" — 
And  had  he  done  fo,  this  whole  people  in 
general,  unlefs  they  had  been  lefs  grateful 
andjnft  than  the  Ifraelites  (who  were  not, 
however,very  remarkable  for  thofe  virtues) 
would  doubtlefs  have  anfwered   as  they 

did— 


DISCOURSE  3j 


did — '  "  Thou  haft  not  defrauded  us,  nor 
*'  opprefTed  us  ;  neither  haft  thou  takea 
**  ought  of  an3M"nans  hand."  Yea,  it  may 
be  queftion'd,  whether  ever  any  perfon  a- 
mongft  us,  was  {o  impudent  as  to  make 
an  attempt  upon  his  honor,  by  the  offer 
of  a  bribe.  For  his  heart  was  not  only 
mcapable  of  admitting  the  leaft  venaHty,  or 
corruption  of  this  fort;  but  univerfaliy 
known  to  be  fo  ;  and  more  immutably 
fixed  to  the  love  of  juftice,  than  the  nee- 
dle to  the  pole  :  For  even  that  varies  and 
deviates ;  and  may,  at  any  time,  be  fhaken 
from  its  proper  point  to  a  contrary  direc- 
tion ;  While  his  juftice  appeared  as  un- 
moveable  as  the  "  everlafting  hills ;"  or 
rather,  purfu'd  its  appointed  courfe  in  his 
circuit,  like  the  undeviating  fun  in  the  fir- 
mament of  heaven. — Juftice  muft,  ho^v- 
ever,  be  here  underftood,  only  in  contra- 
diftijiftion  to  wrong,  injury,  or  pofitive 
injuftice  ;  and  not,  as  it  is  fome  times,  in 
oppofition  to  mercy  and  compaflion.  For 
in  criminal  matters,  I  believe  he  always  in- 
clin'd  to  the  fide  of  clemency  and  mercy, 
\s^here  there  was  legal  room  for  the  exer- 
cife  of  them  ;  and  whenever  feverity  was 
not  apparently  neceffary  for  the  common 
good,  which  he  ftill  kept  in  view  :  Herein 
imitating  the  fupreme  governor  of  the 

world. 


36  A    FU  NERAL 


world,  who  does  not  "  willingly,"  much 
lefs  wantonly,  afflift  and  grieve  the  child- 
ren of  men ;  but,  either  for  their  own  pro- 
fit, or  for  the  prefervation  of  order,  and 
public  good  ;  that  others  may  "  fee  and 
"  fear,  and  not  do  fo  wickedly." 

It  mull  not  be  forgotten  here,  that  foon 
after  he  was  promoted  to  the  important 
truft  of  chief  juftice,  he  was  eleded  a  mem- 
ber of  his  Majefty's  council  for  the  pro- 
vince; and  continued  to  be  fo  eleded 
every  year  fucceffively  to  the  laft.  He 
had  indeed  been  in  nomination  for  a  feat 
at  that  honorable  board  feveral  years 
before;  and  many  worthy  perfons  were 
very  preffing  and  urgent  in  the  affair. 
But  he  himfelf  made  oppofition  to  it ;  and 
this,  partly  at  leaft,  becaufe  he  doubted 
the  expediency  of  his  being  at  once  a 
judge  of  the  court,  and  at  the  council 
table  ;  thinking  that,  hereby,  he  might 
be  brought  "  into  temptation  and  a  fnare ;" 
or,  in  plain  words,  fubjedl  himfelf  to  fome 
undue  influence.  This  may  be  depended 
on  as  a  certain  faft.  So  extremely  tender, 
fo  delicate  was  his  confcience  ;  fo  nice  his 
kwk  of  honor ;  and  fo  great  his  diilidence 
of  himfelf !  He  therefore  utterly  declined 
all  propolals  of  this  fort,   and  perfifted 

therein, 


DISCOURSE.  37 


therein,  that  he  might  keep  himfelf  as  in- 
dependent as  poffiblc.  However,  his  friends, 
who  knew  him  incapable  of  being  unduly 
biafs'd  by  any  means  or  circumftanccs 
\vhatever ;  and  were  fatisfied,  he  would 
be  very  ferviccable  at  the  board,  would 
not  dellll :  And  he  was  accordingly  elcft- 
ed  a  member  of  the  council,  againit  all  the 
oppofition  he  could  well  make.  Nor  was  it 
without  confiderable  difficulty,  that  he  was 
finally  prevailed  upon  to  drop  his  objec- 
tions, and  to  accept,  after  he  was  chofen. 

Thus,  like  Samuel  of  old,  after  hav- 
ing been  many  years  a  judge,  he  became 
one  of  the  king's  council.  And  at  that 
honorable  board,  as  in  every  other  capa- 
city, he  (liew'd  himfelf  the  wife  and  up- 
right man :  And  not  only  fo  ;  for  he  was 
one  of  eminent  diflinclion  araongfl:  others 
-of  the  fame  character.  This  was  more 
efpecially  the  fphere  in  which  his  pa- 
triotifm  difcover'd  itfelf  For  while  he 
wasftriftly  Ipya],  and  attached  to  the  pre- 
fent  royal  family  on  revolution-principles 
(which  were  al(b  the  principles  of  Sa- 
muel ;)  while  he  was  Heady,  on  one  hand, 
in  alTerting  the  rights  of  the  crown,  and 
of  his  Majefty's  governor;  he  was,  on  the 
other  hand,  a  moft  zealous  friend  to  his 
D  country, 


28  A    FUNERAL 


country,  its  laws  and  liberties.  If  at  any 
time  things  were  in  agitation,  as  they 
fomctiines  were,  which  he  apprehended 
inconfillent  wirh,  or  hazardous  to,  the  juft 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  people,  or  pre- 
judicial to  them  in  any  other  refpect ;  he 
had  always  the  integrity  and  magnanimity 
to  oppofe  fuch  meafures,  whoever  ap- 
peared as  the  firfl:  promoters,  or  compliant 
fautors,  of  them.  Nor  did  he  fear  to  give 
his  negative  to  the  nominations  to  civil 
oilices,  whenever  he  conceived  the  per- 
fons  nominated,  to  be  wholly  unfuirablc 
for,  or  unworthy  of  them.  In  one  word,, 
he  ufed,  "  to  the  beft  of  his  judgment  at 
"  all  times,  freely  to  give  his  advice  to 
"  the  governor,  for  the  good  management 
"  of  the  public  affairs  of  this  govern- 
^'  ment/'f  This  he  ever  gave  in  the  in- 
tegrity of  his  heart,  without  fear,  favor, 
or  criminal  prejudice#  And  though  it 
might  be  too  much  to  fay  of  any  man.,  that 
be  was  never,  in  any  refpeft,  miftaken  in 
his  judgment;  yet  there  have  probably 
been  but  few  men  in  the  world,  lefs  inci- 
dent to  fuch  miftakes,  than  the  honor- 
able perfon  of  whom  I  am  fpeaking. 

It 

f  The  words  of  thr  oath  taken  by  the  members  of  hts» 
Majcrty  s  coancil  for  this   province. 


DISCOURSE.  39 


It  fliould  be  remember'd  here,  that,  as  a 
member  of  his  Majeity's  council,  he  was 
one  of  the  overfeers  of  the  college :  At 
which  board  he  w^as  eminentlv  fervicea- 
ble,  by  his  fuperior  knowledge  in  literary 
matters ;  and  by  what  experience  had 
taught  him  concerning  the  belt  methods 
of  inilrucling  and  governing  that  fociety, 
while  he  was  a  tutor  in  it. 

But,  if  you  pleafe,  we  will  for  the  pre- 
fent  take  our  leave  of  the  excellent  fcholar, 
the  accomplifh'd,  upright  judge,  the  wife 
and  faithful  counfellor,  the  loyal  fubjed:, 
and  zealous  patriot ;  provided  we  can,  for 
a  moment,  leperate  thefe  ideas  and  cha- 
rafters  from  this  extraordinary  perfon ; 
and  confider  him  only  in  hjs  private  capa- 
city. And  here  we  have  prefented  to 
our  view,  the  mod  agreeable  companion, 
the  accomphfh'd  gentleman,  th,e  warm, 
difcrete  and  faithful  friend,  a  good  mafter 
and  neighbour,  a  perfon  of  uncommon 
candor,  and  an  exemplary  chriftian. 

He  was  the  moft  agreeable  companion, 
and  an  accompli(h*d  gentleman.  He  was 
the  moft  remote  from  all  appearances  of  van- 
ity and  afTedation.  He  was  o|^a  very  fecial 
and  courteous  make;  and  his  manner  of 
D  2  addrefs 


4C5  A    FU  NERAL 


adclrefs  was  particularly  engaging.  His 
converfation  was  often  inftruclive,  al- 
ways fprightly  and  entertaining  ;  and  in- 
deed never  failed  to  charm.  He  "  honored 
all  men  ;'*  treated  every  one  with  due  ref- 
pe6l,  and  never  gave  caufe  of  offence 
or  uneaiincfs  to  any,  whether  prefent 
or  abfent,  by  words  or  anions  :  of  which 
he  was  very  fingularly  cautious.  His 
behaviour  v/as  pohOi'd,  his  manners  re- 
fined ;  and  had  in  them  that  peculiar  de- 
licacy, which  all  can  fee  and  admire,  but 
none  can  exadly  defcribe.  His  counte- 
nance, his  whole  air  and  mien,  Jlritck  at 
once^iil  may  fo  exprefs  it  ;  and  attrafted 
the  efteem  and  regard  of  the  fpeftator,  by 
telling  even  his  eyes,  what  kind  of  foul 
informed  the  body  which  he  faw  before 
him :  While  he  converfed  with  people, 
both  of  the  lo  well  and  higheft  ranks,  with- 
out the '  leaft  tinfture  of  haughtinefs  on 
one  hand,  or  of  meannefs  on  the  other. 

He  was  aAvarm,  difcrete  and  faithful 
friend.  He  could  never  be  prevailed  on  to 
difeard,  or  even  to  neglect, ;  any  one,  for 
-whom  he  had  profeffed  a  regard,  on  mere 
fufpicion,  or  rumours,;  or  without  exa- 
mining things  to  the  bottom.  Nor  was  he 
backward  to  advife  on;  occafion,  efpecial- 


DISCOURSE.  41 

]y  when  his  advice  was  aikcd  ;  for  other- 
wife  he  was  far  from  being  forward  or 
oiRcious.  Nor  indeed  do  I  doubt,  but 
that  he  was  as  willing  to  hear,  ns  to  give 
advice,  tho'  no  n:an  lefs  needed  it;  he 
being  a  kind  of  oracle  to  himfelf,  tho'  lefs 
fo  than  he  was  to  others.  He  was  ex- 
tremely kind  and  obliging  in  his  temper  ; 
and,  in  fhort,  difcharged  all  the  offices  of 
friendfliip  in  general  with  the  utmoft 
punftuality,  and  the  mod  nice  precifion. 
T-It  were  needlefs,  after  faying  thus  much 
of  him  in  the  capacity  of  a  friend,  to  fay 
any  thing  of  him  as  a  relation  ;  only,  that 
if  any  fliould  imagine  he  was  not  the 
very  beft  and  kindeft,  it  would  be  a  proof 
that  they  knew  but  little  of  him 

He  was  a  goodmader;  no  ways  mo-r 
rofe  or  auftere  ;  but  as  kind  and  indulgent 
as  was  confident  even  with  the  good  of 
his  fervants ;  not  to  fay,  with  the  duty 
dnd  fervice  which  they  owed  to  him; 
which  were  fuperfluous  in  fpeaking  of  fo 
reafonable  and  juft  a  man.  He  treated 
all  his  domeftics  in  a  proper  manner  ; 
who  muft  indeed  have  been  very  bad 
ones,  had  they  not  thought  thcmfclves 
happy  in  fuch  a  mafter,  as  they  doubtlefs 
did.    ■          ■  .        ' 


42  A    FUNERAL 


He  was  the  bed  of  neighbours ;  ever 
courteous  and  obliging.  None  ofthofe 
who  liv'd  near  him,  could  help  looking  on 
it  as  a  part  of  their  felicity,  that  they  were 
i.i  the  neighbourhood  ol  fuch  a  perfon, 
even  though  they  had  no  particular  know- 
ledge of  him :  While  thofe  who  knew 
him  better,  had  proportionably  an  higher 
fenfe  of  their  happinefs  in  this  refpeft. 


He  was  a  perfon  of  uncommon  candor. 
He  did  not  only,  not  allow  himfelf  to  de- 
tract from  the  merit  of  any  perfons  of  real 
worth  ;  but  would  not  fpeak  contemptu- 
ouily,  or  reproachfully,  of  the  capacity, 
the  accomplilhments,  or  the  behaviour  of 
others,  however  juft  a  foundation  there 
might  be  for  it.  He  apparently  took  a 
pleaiure  in  thinking  and  fpeaking  well  of 
all  worthy  perfons  ;  and  often  found 
fomcthing  to  commend  even  in  thofe,  in 
whom  others  could  find  nothing  deferving, 
commendation.  But  if  there  were  any^ 
the  fubjcd  of  converfation,  in  whom  he 
could  find  nothing  praife-worthy,  he 
would  at  leaft  be  their  apologiil ;  driving 
to  extenuate  their  faults  by  fome  means 
or  other,  while  others  could  hardly  think 
of  any  thing  but  what  feemed  to  be  an 
aggravation  of  them.  This  was  really 
his  temper  and  difpolition,. 

And 


DISCOURSE.  43 


And  this  brings  me  to  what  all  truly 
wife  and  good  men  will  acknowledge  to 
be  the  bell:  part  of  his  character  : — He 
was  an  exemplary  christian.  This, 
indeed,  is  implied  in  what  was  faid  before, 
concerning  the  great  regard  w^hich  he  all 
along  manifefted  to  religion  and  virtue, 
while  a  ftudent,  and  tutor  at  the  college ; 
while  a  preacher  of  the  gofpel  ;  and  by 
his  llri6l  fidelity  both  as  a  judge,  and  as 
a  counfellor.  But  it  feemed  proper  to 
fpeak  more  particular  of  his  religion  here, 
where  we  are  confidering  him  in  his  pri- 
vate capacity." — He  appeared  to  have  an 
habitual  and  deep  reverence  ofalmighry 
GOD  upon  his  mind.  And  I  have  more 
than  once  heard  him  fpeak  with  great 
pleafure  of  that  circumftance  in  the  cha- 
ratfler  of  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  chief 
juftice  of  the  king's  bench;  That  he  was 
never  known  to  mention  the  holy  and 
Venerable  name  of  GOD — without  mak- 
ing a  paufe  at  it  in  his  difcourfe.f  He 
was  a  firm  believer  in  Jesus  Christ,  the 
fbn  of  GOD ;  and  in  that  religion  which 
bears  his  name,  as  contained  in  the  holy 
fcriptures. 

He  was  none  of  thofe  who  are  too  wife 
to  be  taught  of  God  ;  too  great  to  wor- 

fhip 

^  The  fame  is  faid  of  Sir  /.  N'ci'jfofi, 


44  A    FUNERAL 


fliip  and  bow  down  before  him,  or  coo 
good  and  gracious  to  need  the  ineans  of 
grace.     He  condantly  attended  (as  yon, 
my  brethren  of  this  fociety,  are  witneffes) 
He  conftantly  attended   the  worfliip  of 
God,  and  the  ordinances  of  the  gofpel, 
with  great  reverence,   gravity  and  devo- 
tion :  Winch,  tho'  he   was   an  enemy  to 
oitcntation  in  every  thing,  and  efpecially 
in  reUgion,  v^ere  fometimes  fo  apparent  in 
liis  countenance,  that  one  could  not  ob- 
fcrve  it  without  having  his  own  devotion 
raifcd  and  improved,  if  he  had  any:   and 
hardly,  if  he   had  none  before,   without 
catching  thereby  fomething  of  the  fame 
fpirit  from  him.     And  as  he  was  exempla- 
ry in  his  attendance  upon  the  public  wor- 
iliip  of  God,  I  have  fome  particular  rea- 
fons  to  a  (lure  mylelf,  that  he  alfo  worfhip- 
ed  God  in  his  family  ;  having  as  it   were, 
like  Samuel,  an  altar  at  his  own  houfe,* 
on  which  to  offer  up  fpiritual  facrifices  to 
the  Lord:   Tho'  I  have  indeed  never  made 
it   my  bufjncfs  to"  creep   into  houfes ;" 
or  to  pry   curioufly   into  peoples  domef- 
tic  concerns,  like  the  heathen  priefts  of 
old.  J  '"      ■ 

He 

*  Sec  as  above    i  Sam.  VII.   17. 
X  Scire  volunt  fecrcta  domus,  at(juc  iade.timcrh         PcrC 


DISCO  RU  SE.  45: 


He  was  a  firm  and  zealous  friend  to  the 
principles  of  religious  liberty,  and  the  fa- 
cred  rights  of  confcience.     No  man  was 
more  free  from  all  fuperftition,  or  from 
the  fordid,  illiberal  fpirit  of  party.     No 
man  was  more  catholic  towards  chriftians 
of  different  denominations ;  or  fartherfrom 
a  fpirit  of  bigotry,  contention  and  cenfo- 
rioufnefs.     It  was  before  obfervcd,  that 
he  was  a  firm  believer  of  the  chriftian  re- 
ligion in  general ;  and  he  was  fo  in  parti- 
cular, of  the  atonement  made  by  the  death 
of  Ch  R I  ST  for  the  fins  of  the  world ;  and 
of  that  *'  life  and  immortality,  brought  to 
**  light   by   him   thro*  the   gofpel  ;"   m 
which  heexpreflTed  an  humble  hope,  in  my 
hearing,  a  few  hours  before  he  expired. 

He  appeared  to  have  a  great  concern  for 
the  intereft  of  chriftianicy  in  the  world. 
And,  by  repeated  converfations  with  him 
on  the  fubjecl,  I  know  he  had  very  much 
at  heart  the  coming  into  fomefcheme,  or 
method,  for  propagating  the -gofpel  a^ 
mongft  the  natives  of  thefe  northern  parts 
of  America  :  Often  exprefTing  his  great 
forrow  that  a  certain  Society  beyond 
fea,  had  done  nothing,  or  but  very  little, 
to  this  important  end  ;  important^  not  on- 
ly in  a  religious  view  of  things,  but  lecon- 
darily,  in  a  civil  and  political. 

But 


4(5'  A    FUNERAL 


But  not  to  digrefs :  His  whole  life  in 
general  was  apparently  conduded  under 
the  influence,  and  according  to  the  pre- 
cepts, of  our  holy  religion  :  Which  is  the 
mod  authentic  evidence,  at  leall  to  others, 
of  a  perfon's  being  a  thorough  chriliian. 
For  men  do  not  "  gather  grapes  of  thorns, 
"  or  figs  of  thiltles ;"  and  "  oy  their  fruits 
"  we  are  to  know  them."  But  if  there 
was  any  one  virtue  more  confpicuous  in 
this  good  man,  than  another,  it  feems  to 
have  been  the  charity  and  bountifulncfsof 
his  heart.  And,  "  by  this  lliall  all  men 
**  know  that  ye  are  my  difciples,"  fays 
our  Lord,  "  if  ye  have  love  one  to  ano- 
**  ther."  ^  A  more  loft  and  tender,  a  more 
fympathizing,  or  more  bountiful  heart,  no 
man,  perhaps,  ever  had.  He  appeared, 
in  reality,  to  "  love  his  neighbour  as  him- 
felf."  His  heart  feemed,  not  only  always 
open,  but  expanded  wide  ;  even  wider 
than  the  earth,  and  "  broader  than  the 
iea."  And  had  his  fortune  been  of  th<? 
feme  dimcnfions  with  his  foul,  he  would 
have  been  the  common,  public  almoner, 
even  without  being  appointed  by  any, 
under  God,  to  the  diicharge  of  that 
office  ;  diftributing,  not  only  to  the  necef- 
fjties  of  the  faints,  but  to  every  proper  ob- 
je6l  of  chiarity,  far  and  near.    Great  riches 

ia 


DISCOURSE.  47 


in  his  hands  would  indeed  have  been  a 
common  ble/Iiiig;  and,  by  being  thus  dif- 
perfed  abroad,  and  "  given  to  tiie  poor," 
like  incenfe  continually  afcending  to  hea- 
ven :  And  we  know,  that  "  with  luch 
"  facrifices  God  is  well  pleafed/' 

That  this  would  have  been  his  manner 
of  employing  riches,  is  fufEciently  evident 
by  the  ufe  he  made  of  what  he  had.  For 
tho'  his  income  was  very  moderate,  or, 
to  fpeak  more  properly,  quite  fcanty ; 
and  fuch  as  almoft  any  other  perfon  in  his 
ftation,  would  have  thought  infufficient 
for  his  own  fupporc  in  a  manner  fuitable 
to  it,  even  with  the  bell  oeconomy  ;  yet 
it  i:;  well  known,  that  of  that  fmall  income 
he  fpent  a  large  proportion  in  deeds  of 
charity  and  beneficence,  from  time  to  time- 
Often  did  the  bleiling  of  the  poor,  and  of 
him  that  was  ready  to  perilh,  come  upon 
him.  Even  in  his  narrow  circumftances, 
he  was  like  Job  in  the  days  of  his  profperi- 
ty,  "  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  to  the 
lame."  And  how  often  has  he  caufed  the 
"  widow's  heart  to  fing  for  joy  !" 

Let  me  here  juft  mention  one  thing 
more,  which  amongft  innumerable  others, 
plainly  Ihew'U  the  goodnefs   of  his  heart. 

In 


48'  A    FUNERAL 


In  the  exercife  of  his  office  as  chief]  ufticej 
he  had  repeated  occafions  to  pronounce 
fcntcnce  of  death  upon  malefa61ors.  In 
doing  -which,  tho'  he  did  not  forget,  or 
lofe,  the  firmpefs  becpming  a  judge  ;  yet 
he  always  did  it  with  fuch  a  vifible  con- 
cern for  the  unhappy  criminal,  joined  with 
Ipch  moving,  pathetic  counfels  and  ad- 
naonitions,  as  hardly  ever  failed  to  force 
ilghs,  and  dra\v  tears,  from  almoft  every 
pcrlon  prefent* 

But  there  is  not  time  to  be  more  parti- 
cular on  thecharafter  of  this  excellent  and 
amiable  man.  Thefe  are  the  outlines  of 
it,  tmly,  tho*  very  imperfe(ftly  drawn. 
To  fum  up  all  in  a  few  words:  Altho'  I 
have  known  fome  very  favage  and  brutal 
perfons;  fome  very  ignorant  and  ftupid, 
and  fome  very  wicked  and  abandon'd  ones ; 
yet  I  never  knew  onefo  favage  and  brutal, 
as  not  to  be  charm'd,  as  it  were,  with  the 
poliIh*d  manners  of  judge  Se wall  ;  fo 
ignorant  and  ftupid,  as  not  to  fee  and  ac- 
knowledge him  to  have  been  a  wife  man  ; 
orfo  wicked  and  abandon'd,  as  not  tore- 
verchlm  as  a  good  one;  for  I  know  a  bad 
man  cannot  really  love  a  good  one,  as  fuch. 
And  the  better  title  any  l^ad  themfelves, 
to  thcfc  characters  of  poliflVd,  wife  and 

good., 


DISCOURSE. 


49 


good,  the  more  ready,  proportionably, 
they  always  were  to  give  bim  the  praife  of 
them.  Some  other  perfons  of  great  abili- 
ties and  merit,  in  difTerent  parts  of  the 
world,  have  not  been  generally  efteem'd 
and  belov'd,  becaufe  people  did  not  know 
their  true  characters  ;  and  had  conceived 
fome  unreafonable  prejudices  againftthem. 
But  it  was  his  felicity,  or  rather  his  coim- 
try's,  that  he  was  known,  an-d  therefore 
efteemed  from  the  firft,  and  ftill  more  at 
the  laft  ;  fo  that  the  public  had  the  bene- 
fit of  his  fuperiour  talents.  Many  others 
in  fuch  eminent  ftations  as  his,  have  bad 
fome  to  envy,  and  fpeak  evil  of  them,  to 
the  lefTening  of  their  ufefulnefs.  But  it 
was  his,  and  his  country's  felicit}^  that 
his  abilities  and  virtues  were  at  leaft  as 
confpicuous  as  his  ftation:  So  as  to  ex- 
empt him  from  envy  and  detradioii,  and 
to  make  the  fphere  of  his  influence  YQxy 
extenflve. 

Some,  however,  will  perhaps  curiouf- 
ly  inquire,  "Whether  this  man  had  no 
faults  ?"• — If  he  had  any,  habitual  to  him, 
they  were  very  uncommon  ones  for  this  age 
of  the  world  ;  for  they  confided  in  the  ^a-- 
cefs  of  thefe  two  virtues,  liberality  andjejf- 
diffidence!  And  if,  by  the  former,  hefeemed 

to 


tt 


501  ^    FUNERAL 


to  injure  himfelf ;  yet  at  the  fame  time  he 
refembled  the  poor  widow  in  the  gofpel, 
who  "  ot  her  penury  cafl:  in  unto  the  of- 
"  ferings  of  God,  all  the  living  which 
"  fhe  had:''  being  commended  by  HIM 
who  taught,  that  *'  it  is  more  bleffed  to 
give  than  to  receive  /'  and  who,  "  altho' 
he  were  rich,  yet  for  our  fakes  became 
poor/' — By  the  latter  of  them,  he  may 
indeed  have  done  a  negative  injury  to 
others.  For  had  he  had  this  quality  of 
felf-difiidence  in  a  lefs  degree,  h^  might, 
poUibly,  have  been  more  of  a  leader  than 
he  feems  to  have  been,  in  the  affairs  of  the 
public ;  from  which,  fome  additional  ad- 
vantages would  probably  have  accrued  to 
it. — But  how  many  perfons,  at  lead  in 
other  governments^  have  done  almoft  irre- 
parable damage  to  the  pubhc,  on  the  other 
hahd,  by  their  excefs  of  rafhnefs,  felf-con^ 
eeit  and  ofHcioufnefs ;  by  their  prefump- 
tion,  and  driving,  as  it  were,  all  before 
them  I — If  that  may  be  calfd  a  fault  in 
him,  which  yet  admits  of  fome  doubt ; 
this  is,  without  any  doubt,  a  crime  in  them  ; 
and  will  not  fo  readily  be  excufed.  But 
amongfl  all  the  various  woes  denounced 
againft  different  perfons  in  fcripture,  there 
feems  to  be  none  which  fo  much  con- 
cerned 


D  ISCOU  RSE.  51 


cerned  hiai,  as  that  pointed  againft  thofe, 
of  whom  every  one  fpeaketh  well,  f 

It  appears,  I  fnppofe,  not  to  have  been 
wholly  without  reafon,  that  Samuel's 
condud  and  charaiicr  were  pitched  oa 
by  way  of  introdudion  to  the  character 
and  condud:  of  that  diftinguifh'd  and  e- 
minent  pcrfon,  of  w^-iom  I  have  been 
fpeaking.  For,  was  the  former  a  fearer 
and  fervant  of  God  even  from  his  early 
youth  ?  We  have  reafon  to  think  the  latter 
was  fo  likewife.  Was  the  former  brought 
upin  thefchoolofthe  fonsof  the  prophets? 
So,  in  effect,  was  the  latter.  Did  the  far- 
mer, even  in  his  youth,  bid  fair  in  due 
time  to  become  a  ilgnal  bleffing  to  his 
country  ?  So  did  the  latter.  Did  the  for- 
mer minifter  before  the  Lord  and  his  peo- 
ple in  the  facred  offices  of  religion  ?  So- 
did  the  latter.  Did  the  former  become 
in  time,  an  inftruftor  and  governor  in 
that  college  Wherein  he  had  received  his 
education,  and  prove  a  great  bleffing  to 
it  ?  So  did  the  latter.  Was  the  former  at 
length  cloached  with  the  important  office 
of  a  judge?  So  was  the  latter.  Did  the 
former  travel  from  place  to  place  in  the 
difcharge  of  this  laborious  truft  ?  So  did 
die  latter.     Did  the  former  worfhip   the 

Lord 

t  Luke  VI.  2d. 


52.  A    FUNERAL 


Lord  ill  his  own  houfe,  as  well  as  in  pub- 
lic ?  So  did  the  latter.  Did  the  people 
"  fear  the  Lord  and  Samuel?"  But  many 
of  thofe  who  did  not  fear  the  Lord,  yet 
feared  the  latter,  who  was  a  terror  to 
their  evil  works.  Was  the  former  emi- 
nently faithful  and  upright,  in  theexcrcife 
of  his  authority  ?  So  was  the  latter.  Was 
the  former  at  length  one  of  the  king's 
eouncil  ?  So  was  the  latter.  Was  the  for- 
'mer  a  true  patriot  ;  a  lover  of  his  coun- 
try, its  laws  and  liberties  ;  and  an  enemy 
to  all  tyranny  and  tyrants  ?  So  was  the 
latter.  Was  the  former  in  all  refpefts 
a  worthy,  good  and  amiable  perfon  ?  So 
was  the  latter.  Were  the  great  merits, 
and  public  fer  vices  of  the  former,  acknov^:- 
Icdgcd  by  all  the  people  in  general  I  So 
were  thofe  of  the  latter.  Did  the  former 
continue  all  the  days  of  his  life  in  the 
faithful  difcharge  of  his  important  truft  ? 
So  did  the  latter.  Was  the  former  juftly 
and  univerfally  lamented  at  his  death  ?  So 
'is  the  latter— ' 

Thus  far  the  parallel  feems   to  hold  in 
general,  without  ufing  any  unnatural  vi- 
olence ;  tho'  it  will  not  do  fo  in  fome  o- 
.  ther  refpefts.     Samuel,    for  example, 
had  children,  who  gave  him  trouble  by 

their 


DISCOURSE.  53 

their  ill  behaviour  ;  but,  the  other  had 
none.  And  yet  how  many  perfons  have 
in  him  loft  a  father  I  while  he  has  obtain- 
ed a  "  name  better  than  that  of  fons  or 
of  daughters";  far  better  indeed,  than 
that  of  fuch  as  fome  of  Samuel's  §, 

SaxMUel  was,  moreover,  a  prophet  of 
the  Lord,  being  immediately  infpired  by 
him.     Such  was  not  the  latter.     But  yet 
he  faw,  heard  and  believed  thofe  things, 
of  which   many  prophets  and    righteous 
men,  and  kings  in  thofe  remote  ages,  un- 
derftood  but  little  at  moft.     And  indeed 
the  father  of  fpirits  gave  him  fuch  a  ge- 
nius as,  I  had  almoft  faid,   might  fupply 
the  place  of  infpiration  I  But  this  would  be 
extravagant. — However,  his  great  know- 
ledge can  hardly  be  faid  to  have  been  ac- 
quired by  little  and  Httle,  in  the  ordinary 
way,  and  by  much  pains :  It  was  rather 
a  kind  of  immediate  intuition  ;  fuch  as 
we  may  fuppofe  in  fome  beings  of  an 
higher  order.     It  was  fo  quick,  clear  and 
piercing,  that,  like  the  lightning,  it  ex- 
tended in   a  moment  to  all  parts  under 
heaven,  the  origin  and  fource  of  both. 

But  there  is  another  thing,  wherein  the 

parallel  fails:  For  Samuel  lived  till  he 

E  waB 

§  Judge  Sewaj-l  <iicd  a  bachelor.       "- 


54  'A    FUNERAL 


was  far  advanced  in  years  ;  and   died  ia 
old  age,   when,  as  we  may  naturally  fiip- 
pofe,   the  common   infirmities  of  it   had 
render'd  him  almoll  incapable  of  fcrving 
the  public  any  longer- — But  the  other,  alas ! 
died  at  an  age,  *  when  he  might'  proba- 
bly have  been  .a  great  public  bleffing  for 
many  years  longer,  had  heaven  fpar'd  him, 
to   us — How^ever,   in   what  does  honor- 
able  old  ac:e  confiil  ?  Does   it  '^  ftand  in 
*'  length  of  time  ?"  or  is  it  only   "  mea-s 
"  fured   by  number  of  years  ?"  Dees  it 
not  rather  confiit  in  piety,  virtue,    and 
doing  many  and   great   public   fervices  ? 
In  fliort,  is  not  "  wdfdom  the  gray  hair  un- 
"  to  men ;  and  an  unfpotted  life,  old  age?'* 
If  we  meafure  the  life  of  that  excellent 
man,  w4iofe  death  w^e  now  mourn,  by  this 
fiandard  (which  we  find  in  the  Wlfdom  of 
Solomon;)  xho    w^e  cannot  fay,  perhaps, 
that  he  lived  fo  long  as  SxImuel,  yet  w^e 
may  juftly  fay,  that  but  few  perfons  have 
lived  fo  long  in  the  world  as  he,  at  leaft  in 
this  country ;  or  died  in  fuch  "  a  good 


*''  old  age, 


However,  w'c  juftly  lament  him  dead  ; 
tecaufe,  had  his  life  been  preferved,  he 
might  have  probably  continued  a  great 
public  bleiHng  many  years  longer.     And 

the 
*  iStat.  58. 


DISCOURSE.  55- 


the  manner  in  which  his  funeral  rites 
were  attended  the  laft  evening,  is  a  fuffi- 
cient  proof  that  what  has  been  faid  of  him, 
is,  in  genera],  the  fenfe  of  the  pubUc — . 
Bur  the  will  of  heaven  is  done  ;  and  "  fhall 
"  not  the  JUDGE  of  all  the  earth 
"  do  ri^ht  1" 


o 


If  he  who   has  been  *'  faithful   over  a 
'^  few  things,    is   to  be  made  ruler  over 
**  many  things,"  how  highly  muft  we  fup- 
pofe  this  eminently  faithful  fervantof  God, 
will   be  exalted,   entering  into   the  joy  of 
his  Lord  at  the  laft  day  ?  Yea  rather,  how 
happy  ?    how   highl}^    exalted,   may    we 
fuppofe  hiin  to  be  already  ?  All  that  was 
mortal  of  him  (an  inconfiderable  part)  is 
indeed  repofited  in  the  tomb,  not  to  arife 
till  the  heavens  fhall  be  no  more.     But 
his  righteoufnefs  fhall  endure,  when  they 
are   "   folded   up   and    changed  !  *'    Me- 
thinks  I  faw  him,  when  the  law  of  death 
was   once  fatisfied   in  him,  convoy'd  by 
thofe    ''  miniftring  fpirits,  who   are   fent 
forth  to  minirter  to  the  heirs  of  falvation  ", 
to  the  paradife  of  God  ;    himfelf  no  more 
a  frail  man,  but  an  angel  ;  a  bright,   glo- 
rious and  immortal  fpirit,  even  *'  as  aflame 
of  fire  "  1     And  this,    without  any  great 
change  in  him.     There  was  little  more 
E  z  needed 


5^  A    FUNERAL 


needed,  than  to  fet  such  a  foul  at  liberty 
from  it's  incumbrance  and  prifon,  the  body. 

Hai!  then,,  Lmnortal  Spirit !  (  whether 
man  or  angel,  the  difference  is  not  great  ) 
Immortal  Spirit^  hail !  No  longer  incum- 
bered with  mortality,  or  confin'd  to  earth 
and  darknefs  :  But  introduced  among  the 
fpirics  of  juft  men  made  perfeft  ;  to  the  in- 
numerable company  of  angels  ;  to  the  ge- 
neral affembly,  and  church  of  the  firft-born 
in  heaven  ;  to  Jefus  the  mediator  of  the 
new  covenant,  and  to  God  the  judge  of 
all  1  In  his  light  to  fee  light,  and  to  drink 
joy  and  immortality,  not  at  the  (hallow 
ftreams,  but  at  the  fathomlefs  fountain 
thereof  ! —  And  thou.  Precious  dult  !  or 
lifelefs  body,  foon  to  become  duft,  "  reft 
"  thou  in  hope  "  I  For  even  thou  flialt 
ir  due  time  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of 
God,  and  live  ;  "  fafhioned  like  unto  his 
*'  own  glorious  body  :  "  When,  atfurtheft, 
ALL  they  that  have  died  in  the  Lord,  fhall 
alfo  be*'  equal  unto  the  angels  ;  andfliall 
"  be  the  children  of  God,  being  the  chil- 
**  dren  of  the  RESURRECTION  !  *.  " 

They  who  had  no  very  particular  know- 
ledge of  judge  Sewall,  may  perhaps 
fufpeft    that  I  have  fpoken  of  him  in  a 

ftyle 

*   Luke  XX.  36. 


DISCOURSE.  s7 


ftyle  cxtravagantl}^  hyperbolical.  But  I 
am  in  do  pain  left  others,  who  had  the 
happinefs  of  a  thorough  acquaintance  with 
him,  fhquld  think  me  chargeable  WMth 
this.  The  memory  of  fuch  eminently 
wife,  jull  and  good  men,  ought  indeed  to 
be  blelled  ;  not  in  the  frigid  language  of 
indifference,  but  in  all  that  ardor  of  ex- 
preffion,  which  naturally  flows  from  an 
lieart  truly  fenfible  of  their  w^orth,  and 
deeply  touched  by  their  lofs.  And  it 
feems  but  equitable  and  congruous,  that 
HE,  who  never  fpoke  evil  of  an}*^  one,  but 
honour'd  all  men^  and  delighted  in  giving 
all  their  due  fhare  of  praife  ;  Ihould,  at 
leaft  when  he  is  dead  and  gone,  be  praifed 
by  all  in  his  turn  ;  and  fo  much  the  ra- 
ther, becaufe  he  would  not  willingly  fuf- 
fer  anyone  to  commend  him  while  living; 
which  was  the  truth  as  to  this  excellent' 
perfon. 

THe  afTembly  has  been  detained  fo  long 
already ,that  I  muft  be  much  more  brief 
than  I  intended  in  thofe  reflcLTiions,  with 
which  this  difcourfe  is  now  to  be  clofed. 

We  mayjuftly  confider  the  death  of 
tlu>  truly  worthy  perfon,  as  a  common, 
public  lofs  ;  and  a  great  frown  of  divine 

providence 


58  A    FUNERAL 


providence    upon    the   whole    province. 
Thelofs  of  fuch  a  perfon  infuch  a  flation, 
is  doLibtlefs  a  public  calamity  ;  and  great,  iu 
proportion  to  the  extenfivenefs  of  theblef- 
^w^g  once  enjoyed  in  him  ;  who  was  fuch 
a  friend  to  learning  and  religion  ;  fuch  a 
lover  of  his  country,  it's  liberties  and  laws ; 
who  fcatiered  the  wicked  with   his  eye  ; 
wdio  ilppped  the  mouth  of  iniquit}^  ;  and, 
vinder    God,    caufed    judgment    to    flow 
down  as  a  river.     In  Ihort,    in  what  one 
perfon  among 'us,    could    the  republic  of 
letters,  the  law,  the  courts  of  juilice,  the 
common-wealth,  thechurch  of  God,  have 
faftained   a  greater  lofs  f  ?     Nor  are  we, 
I  hope,    {o  degenerate   as   the  people  of 
Ifrael  were,  at  the  time  when  it  was  faid, 
■ — "  The    righteous   dieth,    and  no  man 
**  Ia3^eth  it  to  heart."  No  !  we  all  in  gene- 
ral lay  to  heart  the  death  of  this  one  righ- 
teous mm,  at  lead.     And  it  may  be  quef- 
tioned,  whether  ever  a  perfon  died  among 
us,  before  him,  at  once  more  univerfally, 
and  more    fincerely,    lamented.      There 
is  not,  Ibelievc,  an  heart  but  what  feels 
this  lofs  in  fome  degree  :  For,  indeed, that 
man  who  is  wholly  infenfible  of  it,  if  there 
be  (uch  an  one,    cannot  be  faid  to  have 
any  he-art  at  all ;  at  lead:  not  an  '*  heart  of 

flefh,  " 

f  Pcrfons  0^ z/uperiorrank  ought  always  to  be  fuppafcdl 
excepted,   when  this  manner  of  expreilion  is  ufed. 


Disco  u rse.  sf 


fiefh  ",  but  only  an  "  heart  of  (lone  ",  or 
of  iron  ;  an  heart  infenfjble  to  every  thing 
worthy,  great  and  good. 

But  we  onght  not  only  to  confider  the 
lofs  it  felf ;  we  fliould,  as  was  intimared 
before,  confider  the  holy  hand  and  provi- 
dence of  God  therein.  God,  by  the  pro- 
phet Ifaiah,  amongft  fonic  other  lore  ca- 
lamities which  he  brought,  or  threatned 
to  bring,  on  his  people  of  old  for  their  fins, 
fpeaks  of  taking  away  fuch  eminent  per- 
Tons  ;  and  leavhig  their  places  to  be  filled 
up  by  thofe  w^ho  are  wholly  unequal  to 
them  :  "  Ceafeyefrom  man  whofe  breath 
"  is  in  his  noftrils  :  for  wherein  is  he  to 
*^  be  accounted  of  ?  For  behold,  the  Lord, 
'*  the  Lord  of  hofts,  doth  take  away  from 
**  Jerufalem  and  from  Judah—  the  judge, 
'"  and  the  prophet,  and  the  prudent  — 
*'  the  honourable  man,  and  the  counfel- 
**  "lor  — '  and  the  eloquent  orator.  And  I 
**  will  give  children  to  be  their  princes, 
**  and  babes  fhall  rule  over  them  •^.  "  We 
have  now  before  us  a  very  itrikingexample 
of  the  judgment  exprefi^.:d  in  the  former 
part  of  this  pafiTage.  God,  of  his  grea: 
goodncfs,  grant  that  the  latter  parr  there- 
of may  never  be  veiified  in  Us !  May  He 
in  mercy  return  to  us,  and  heal  the  breach 


v^hkh 


Ifdi.  11.  22. 


6o  A    FV  N  ERAL 


Avhich  his  hand  has  made  :  For  with  him 
is  '•  the  relidue  of  the  fpirit  ;  "  the  ipiric 
of  wifdom  and  prudence,  of  J  u  (lice  and 
judgment,  and  of  a  found  mind.  Our 
fuitabl}^  confidering  his  holy  providence  In 
this  grievous  vifitation  of  it,  may  be  a 
means  of  concihating  his  favour.  And  if 
gracious  heaven  fliall  pleafe  hereafter  to 
give  us  fuch  judges  and  counfcllors  as  the 
lafl  dcceafed,  I  think  we  need  not  pray 
for  fuch  as  were  at  the  fir  ft  \  Whicii  is 
faid,  however,  without  the  leaft  intention 
to  reflect  on  the  memory  of  any  of  the 
Avorthy  fathers  of  this  country. 

There  are,  to  be  fure,  but  very  few 
pcrfons,  equally  quanfied  in  all  refpecls 
to  fill  that  important  ilation,  which  is  now 
left  vacant  by  the  death  of  judge  Sew^ali,. 
Nor  will  faying  this,  I  am  perfu^aded,  give 
fhe  leafl:  offence  to  any  ;  particularly,  not 
to  the  honorable,  and  very  worthy  sur- 
viving judges  of  that  bench,  who  have 
all  along  manifcited  the  greatcft  regard 
'  for  their  dear  brother  deceafed  ;  who  are 
amongll  the  fnicerefl:  mourners  for  him  ; 
and  Vvdio  are  now  paying  a  public  honor 
to  his  memor3'%  by  their  prefencc  here,  on 
this  occafion.  They  will  doubtlefs  be 
excited,  by  thisdifpenfation  of  providence, 

to 


DISCOURSE.  6t 


to  great  fidelity  in  the  difcharge  of  their 
important  truft  ;  purfuingthefteps  of  their 
departed  brother  with  zeal  and  vigor  : 
Being  thus  reminded  of  their  own  mor- 
taUty,  and  of  an  higher  tribunal, 
to  which  all  who  are  judged  here  below, 
have  a  right  of  appeal  ;  and  the  judgment 
of  which  will  be  decisive  I 

The  colleo-e,  as  well  as  the  p-eneral  af- 
fembly,  and  the  fuperior  court  of  judica- 
ture for  the  province,  is  particularly  con- 
cerned in  this  vifitation  of  divine  provi- 
dence ;  confidering  how  long  the  De- 
ceafed  was  a  great  bleffing  and  orna- 
ment to  it,  while  he  refided  therein  ;  the 
great  concern  which  he  always  manifefted 
flnce,  for  the  intereil  of  learning  and  re- 
ligion there  ;  and  his  great  abilities,  and 
equal  zeal  to  ferve  it,  in  the  capacity  of 
one  of  its  overfeers. 

The  relatives  of  the  Deceafed,  thofe  of 
them  that  are  prefent,  will  allow  me  to 
exiiort  them  while  they  forrow,  not  to 
"  forrow  as  thofe  that  have  no  hope  :" — • 
And  alfo,  while  they  mourn  the  Dead,  to 
live  as  he  lived;  in  expe(fl:ation  of  a  joyful 
meeting  with  him  another  day  ;  when  the 
times  of  refrelliing  fhall  come  from  the 

prefence 


^%  A    FUNERAL 


prefence  of  the  Lord.  "  For  if  we  bc- 
'"  lieve  that  Jelns  died,  and  rofe  again, 
.*'  even  fo  them  alfo  that  fleep  in  Jefiis 
*^  will  God  bring  with  him."  In  which 
thrice  glorious  day,  that  will  be  in  a 
jneafure  applicable  to  each  one  ofChrift's 
faithful  followers,  which  he  once  fpake 
of  himfcif,  and  indeed  ftill  fpeakcth  to 
lis  all  from  heaven  : —  "  I  am  HE  that 
"  liveth,  and  was  dead  ;  and  behold  I  am 

"    ALIVE   FOREVERMORE,   Amcn'M  * 


We,  my  brethren  of  thisaflembly,  have 
fome  particular  reafons  to  lay  the  death  of 
this  excellent  man  to  heart ;  and  to  attend 
to  the  voice  of  providence  therein.  He, 
for  many  years,  came  up  to  this  houfe  of 
the  Lord  in  company  Vv'ith  us,  to  worfhip 
at  his  footftool.  We  have  in  him  loft,  not 
only  an  hearty  friend  to  this  fociety;  but 
a  wifeand  prudent  adviferon  all  occafions, 
a  principal  ornament  and  pillar  of  it.  But 
you  will  remember  that  a  "  pillar,''  and 
the  "  fo'-^ndation,'*  the  "  head  of  the  cor-  ~ 
1"  ner,"  or '*  chief  corner-ftone,''  are  not 
"the  fame  thing,  orof  equal  importance  to 
a  building  ;  whether  a  material  or  "fpiri- 
."  tual  houfe."  The  former  mentioned, 
tho'  indeed  a  noble  "  pillar,"  whih  it 
flood  ere(^l:^  was -yet  a  decaying  ore:  It 

n 

*  Rev.  I.   i§. 


DISCOURSE.     .        6i 


is  now,  alas !  fallen  quite  down,  foon  to 
moulder  away,  and  be  reduced  to  powder 
and  dufl:  ;  fo  as  never  to  afford  us  any- 
farther  fupport  !  But  the  *'  foundation," 
the  "  head  of  the  comer,"  fall  remains 
unlliaken,  unimpaired,  an  ever  "  living 
ftone,"  able  to  bear  up  the  whole  build- 
ing. For  WE,  I  trull,  were  not  built, 
neither  did,  or  do  we  depend, forpur  main 
fupport,  on  any  mortal  man.  We  were 
built  on  a  broad  and  firm  foundation  ; 
even  *'  on  the  foundation  of  the  prophets 
*'  and  apoftles,  Jesus  Christ  himself 
*'  being  the  chief  corner- llone  :"  To 
whom  coming  as  unto  a  living  ftone,  dif- 
allowed  indeed  of  men,  but  chofen  of  God 
and  precious,  we  alfo  as  lively  ftones 
fhall  be  built  up  in  him,  a  fpiritual  houfe, 
an  holy  temple  in  the  Lord,  for  an  habi- 
tation of  God  thro*  the  fpirit ;  that  we 
may  offer  up  fpiritual  facrifices,  accepta- 
ble to  God  by  Jefus  Chrift.  And,  I  truft, 
*'  the  gates  of  hell  fliall  never  prevail  a- 
''  gainft  us :"  For  other  foundation  [or 
better]  can  no  man  lay  ! 

Let  us  therefore,  my  beloved  brethren, 
take  encouragement  to  ourfelves  under 
this  bereaving  ftroke  of  divine  providence; 
and  "  ftand'faft  in  the  Lord."  Let  us 
neither  defpife  this  chaftening  of  the  Lord, 

nor 


<$4  A    FUNERAL 


Bor  yet  faint,  being  thus  rebuked  of  him. 
Let  us  not  defpond  ;  let  us  not  be  weary 
or  faint  in  our  minds,  wliiie  we  look  unto 
Jefus,  the  author  and  finisher  of 
OUR  FAITH  ;  whom  ''  God  hath  made 
"  head  over  all  things  to  the  church." 
And  let  us  live  in  the  obfervance  of  all  his 
commandments  :  For,  as  you  well  know, 
he  compares  thofe  that  hear  his  fayings, 
and  do  them  not,  to  a  foolifh  man  that 
"  buildeth  his  houfe  upon  the  fand  ;" 
ivhich  v/ill  fall  at  laft,  and  great  will  be 
its  fall  1  But  thofe  that  hear  and  do  them, 
he  likens,  on  the  contrary,  to  a  wife  man 
•that  "  buildeth  his  houfe  upon  a  rock  ;' 
which  defies  all  rains,  and  winds,  and 
ftorms,  and  floods,  from  whatever  quar- 
ter they  come,  and  Ihall  never  fall ;  ''  for 
"  it  IS  founded  upon  a  rock:"  And,  to 
apply  the  w^ords  of  the  apoitle,  fpoken 
with  particular  reference  to  another  point 
•—'' That  rock  is  Christ." 

To  conclude  :  While  I  was  fpcaking 
fo  particularly  above,  of  the  character  and 
•virtues  of  that  good  man,  whofe  lofs  w^e 
all  deplore,  I  confidered  myfelf,  not  merer 
ly  as  paying  a  fmall  part  of  that  tribute 
and  honor  which  are  juftly  due  to  his  me- 
mory ;  but  as  reminding  you,  my  bre- 
thren, 


DISCOURSE.  65 


thren,  and  this  whole  afTembly,  of  your 
duty;  thinking  you  would,  of  courfe,  be 
excited  to  imitate  the  virtues  which  were 
io  confpicuous  in  him.     For  you  will  re- 
member, that  altho'  we  are  not  all  judges, 
or  counfellors,  and  do  not  a6t  in  the  fame 
fpheres  of  life  that  he  did  ;  yet  we  are  all 
bound,  in  our  own,  to  praftife  the  very 
fame  virtues,  w^hich   he  did   in  his ;  the 
fame  piety  towards  God,  by  a  due  regard 
to  his  houfe  and  w^orfliip,  and  in  other 
refpefts  ;  the  fame  juftice,  beneficence  and 
charity  towards  man  ;  the  fame  humility 
and  courtefy  ;  the  fame  condefcenfion  and 
goodnefs  to  all.      For  though  our  blelTed 
Lord  is  our  primary,  and  great,  and  mod 
perfeft  example ;  yet  we  are  admonifhed 
to  follow  others  aifo,  wherein   they  fol- 
lowed him;  and  to  be  followers  of  all 
them,  who  thro'  faith  and  patience  inherit 
the  promifes.    This  good  man  is  taken  a- 
"way  ;  poffibly  from  the  evil  to  come  011 
us  who  furvive  :  We  know  not.    But  cer- 
tainly the  warning  voice  of  this  providence 
to  us  all,  is,  "  Be  ye  ahb  ready  :" — "  Boail 
'^  not   yourfelves  of  to-morrow;  for  ye 
"  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth.*' 
— If  we  truly  fear  God,  and  ferve  him  in 
holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  as  this  good  man 
didjhis  late  departure  from  us  will  not  prove 
a/"//^/ adieu  1  Wefliallfee  him  again;  not  in- 
deed 


66  A FU NERAL  DISCOU RSE. 


deed  in  thisf^ate  of  darkticfs, affliction  and 
trial ;  but  we  (liall  be  prefented  together 
with  hirn  before  the  prefence  of  God  with 
exceeding  joy,  and  with  crowns  of  glory 
from  his  hand.  But  as  there  is  '"  one 
"  glory  of  the  fun,  another  glory  of  the 
"  moon,  and  another  glory  of  the  (lars ;" 
and  as  cvx^n  ''  one  ilar  differeth  from  ano- 
''  ther  (tar  in  glory  :  So  alfo  is  the  rcfur- 
*'  redion  of  the  dead." — When  therefore 
God  himfelf,  who  is  light,  and  in  whom 
there  is  no  darknefs  at  all,  fhali  fhine  on  all 
theblciTed  in  heaven,  we  may  well  fiippofe 
that  his  fervant  lately  decealed,  will  ap- 
pear with  a  diftinguiflied  luftre  and  glo- 
ry ;  even  tho'  all  "  the  righteous  llialt 
''  fhine  forth  as  the  fun  in  the  kingdom 
"  of  their  Father." 

Now    unto   HIM,    the   GOD,    the 
JUDGE,  the  FATHER  OF  ALL, 

who  only  hath  immortality;  dwel- 
lini^  in  li^ht  that  mortal  men  can- 
not  approach  unto,  wiiom  no  man 
hath  ieen,  or  can  fee,  and  live; 
of  whom,  and  thro'  whom,  and 
to  whom  are  all  things: — Even 
imto  HIM  be  given  all  glory  and 
lionor,  dominion,  and  blcffins:,  and 
praife,  thro'  JESUS  CHRIST  our 
Lord,    AMEN  ! 


-^WH'--:v!^tiW: 


^m 


LJM.